iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said at a campaign event that he will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week, media reports said.
Trump announced the meeting while addressing the people in Flint, Michigan, while he was speaking about U.S. trade with India. He gave no details on where they would meet, the report added.
Trump is likely to meet Modi during the latter’s visit to the U.S. from September 21 to 23. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday shared a detailed itinerary of Modi’s America visit.
Donald Trump and Narendra Modi shared a strong personal rapport during Trump’s presidency (2017-2021), evident in events like the “Howdy Modi” rally in Houston and “Namaste Trump” in India.
Their relationship bolstered U.S.-India ties, especially in defense and strategic cooperation, with both leaders focused on countering China’s growing influence. Despite occasional trade disputes, their partnership remained solid, fostering deeper security collaboration through initiatives like the ‘Quad’.
U.S. President Joe Biden will host a summit with leaders from Australia, India and Japan on September 21 in Delaware. Analysts say Washington has increasingly seen New Delhi as a counter to China’s rising influence in Asia.
Some other world leaders who have visited the U.S. in recent months for meetings with Biden and other summits have ended up meeting Trump as well. The Republican nominee faces Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election.
Polls show a tight race between Trump and Harris, who is of Indian descent.
Despite criticizing India over trade without being specific, Trump called Modi “fantastic”.
When Modi visited the country in 2019, he and Trump showered each other with praise at a rally in Texas, attended by more than 50,000 people.
Modi has also enjoyed good relations with Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Biden. The White House rolled out the red carpet for him last year, touting deals on defense and commerce.
Trump’s outreach to the Indian-American community, recognizing its political significance, also played a role. Their (PM Modi and Trump’s) time in office laid the groundwork for an enduring U.S.-India strategic partnership based on mutual interests.
