“At the Oval Office on Thursday, Donald Trump greeted PM Modi with a firm handshake and a warm bear hug, praising him as a ‘great friend’ and a ‘terrific’ leader.”
“At a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump at the White House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called India-US relations a ‘MEGA partnership for prosperity.’”
“Highlighting shared goals, he noted that while Trump is committed to MAGA—Make America Great Again—India is striving for MIGA—Make India Great Again, together forming a MEGA partnership.”
“PM Modi, in a post on X, stated, ‘President Trump often speaks of MAGA. In India, we are working towards a Viksit Bharat, which, in the American context, translates to MIGA. Together, India and the U.S. share a MEGA partnership for prosperity.’
At their Oval Office meeting on Thursday (Friday IST), Trump welcomed Modi with a firm handshake and a warm bear hug, calling him a ‘great friend’ and a ‘terrific’ leader.
Following their discussions, Trump announced that India would increase its purchase of U.S. oil, gas, and military hardware, including F-35 fighter jets, to help narrow the trade deficit. However, he emphasized that Washington would not grant New Delhi exemptions from reciprocal tariffs.”
“At a joint media briefing with PM Modi, Trump stated that both nations are working toward a major trade deal but criticized India’s import duties on certain U.S. products as ‘very unfair’ and ‘strong.’
‘Whatever India charges, we will charge them,’ Trump asserted, emphasizing, ‘We are being reciprocal with India.'”
Modi-Trump Meeting Follows U.S. Tariff Policy Shift
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with U.S. President Donald Trump just hours after Trump unveiled a new reciprocal tariff policy for all U.S. trading partners, reinforcing his administration’s aggressive trade stance.
Despite the tariff move, Trump stated during his meeting with Modi that both leaders had reached an understanding that could position the U.S. as India’s top supplier of oil and gas. He suggested that this step would help reduce the U.S. trade deficit with India, which currently stands at approximately $45 billion.
The U.S. president also emphasized plans to strengthen the defense partnership between the two nations. “Starting this year, we will significantly increase military sales to India by billions of dollars,” he announced.
Trump also announced that India and the U.S. would strengthen their collaboration to combat radical Islamic terrorism globally.
Referring to the extradition of 26/11 Mumbai attack plotter Tahawwur Rana, he stated, “I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the very evil people of the world.”
Rana, currently held at a metropolitan detention center in Los Angeles, was an associate of Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, a key conspirator behind the Mumbai attacks.
“He is going back to India to face justice,” Trump said. “We’re handing him over to India immediately,” adding that more extraditions could follow as “we have quite a few requests from New Delhi.”
Trump also highlighted advancements in India-U.S. cooperation in the civil-nuclear energy sector, emphasizing the strong momentum in bilateral ties.
