Calling India’s PM Modi a “much tougher and much better negotiator than him,” US President Donald Trump gave the bonhomie with the two leaders a timeless depth, nurturing a bond that seemed to have transcended diplomacy.
The two leaders made significant announcements during one of the most awaited White House meetings, with PM Modi announcing that India and the US have set a USD 500 billion target for bilateral trade. Strong ties in defense and the extradition of the 26/11 terror attack suspect Tahawwur Rana, which India has been pushing for, were among the other key decisions.
The event also underscored the strengthening ties and strategic partnership between the two nations, with initiatives like TRUST driving innovation and pledges aimed at tackling issues such as human trafficking and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
India’s F-35 might
One of the standout highlights was the expansion of defense cooperation, with the US agreeing to provide fifth-generation F-35 stealth jets to India. The aircraft, experts claim, is known for advanced stealth, situational awareness, and networked combat capabilities.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told media outlets that the deal was at the proposal stage. New procurements and co-production arrangements for ‘javelin’ anti-tank guided missiles and ‘stryker’ infantry combat vehicles were announced.
India finally get Rana
Understandably, Rana’s extradition has emerged as one of the key points of interest. We may recall that India has been pushing for his extradition since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
“India and the US will be working together like never before to confront the threat of radical Islamic terror across the world,” the US President announced, while assuring that there were “more to follow.”
Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, is connected to Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley. He is accused of assisting Headley and others in Pakistan and of supporting the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in carrying out the attacks in Mumbai.
Thanking Trump for clearing the extradition, PM Modi vowed to “cooperate in fighting terror.” “Tough action is needed against cross-border terrorism. Grateful to President Trump for deciding to extradite 26/11 terrorist Tahawwur Rana. Our courts will bring him to justice,” he said.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said New Delhi was “working on the logistics” of the extradition.
‘India is not neutral’
Meanwhile, by presenting MIGA (Make India Great Again), PM Modi humorously offered his own twist with a play of words to Trump’s well-known ‘Make America Great Again’ slogan. He said that when both countries collaborate, the outcome would be a MEGA cooperation for mutual development.
Modi also elucidated India’s position on peace and commended Trump’s attempts to end the conflict. “The world thinks India is neutral, but India is not neutral. India has its own stance, it is peace,” he said, reinforcing India’s commitment to diplomacy.
Additionally, Modi addressed the recent deportation of 104 Indians from the US, assuring that India was prepared to take back “verified” citizens living illegally in the US while stressing the need for collaborative efforts to tackle human trafficking.
The two leaders also launched the ‘TRUST’ initiative, aimed at fostering greater collaboration between governments, academia, and the private sector to drive innovation in sectors like defense, AI, semiconductors, energy, and space. Trump, who admired Modi’s negotiating skills, praised the Prime Minister for being a “much tougher and better negotiator” than himself, calling him a “great friend for a long time.”
Furthermore, in a gesture to address long-standing issues between India and China, Trump offered to mediate the border dispute along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), expressing his willingness to help end the violence. On the political situation in Bangladesh, which saw the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, Trump rejected speculation about the involvement of the US in the matter.
The meeting underscored the growing strategic alignment between the US and India, signalling a deepening partnership that extends across trade, defense, and global diplomacy.
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