Modi meets Trump to strengthen US-India ties amid trade tensions

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Donald Trump amid rising U.S. tariffs affecting trade. Modi aims to strengthen U.S.-India relations, focusing on technology, trade, defense, and energy, despite recent tensions over tariffs and India's stance on Russia. Before the meeting, Modi engaged with national security adviser Mike Waltz and Elon Musk. India has shown willingness to lower tariffs on U.S. goods and increase purchases of American oil, while the U.S. seeks a fair trade arrangement with India by year-end. The U.S. is India's largest trade partner, but a $50 billion trade deficit exists in India's favor. The two countries' goods and services trade reached $190.1 billion in 2023, with U.S. exports at nearly $70 billion and imports at $120 billion.