Addressing a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump at the White House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to India-US ties as a "MEGA partnership for prosperity."
Emphasizing the common vision of the two countries, Modi said while Trump is working towards MAGA – Make America Great Again, India is working towards MIGA – Make India Great Again.
Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi said, "President Trump speaks a lot about MAGA. In India, we are striving for a Viksit Bharat, which in the American context means MIGA. And India and the USA together have a MEGA partnership for prosperity."
Warm Welcome and Key Announcements
In their Oval Office meeting on Thursday (Friday IST), Trump warmly greeted Modi with a bear hug and a long handshake, terming him a "great friend" and a "terrific man."
Based on their talks, Trump said India will buy more oil, gas, and defense equipment, including the F-35 fighter jet, from the US to address the trade deficit. But he clearly stated that Washington will not make any concessions regarding exemptions for reciprocal tariffs.
Trade Talks and Tariff Disputes
Addressing the joint media conference, Trump underscored that the two nations were negotiating a big trade deal but voiced complaints regarding India's duties on some of America's exports, terming them "very unfair" and "strong."
"Whatever India charges, we will charge them," Trump said. "We are being reciprocal with India."
The Modi-Trump encounter came just hours after Trump introduced a new policy of reciprocal tariffs for all American trading partners, reiterating his government's position on trade deficits.
In spite of trade tensions, Trump said that he and Modi had reached an understanding on steps that could make the US the "number one supplier" of oil and gas to India. He emphasized that this step will help to cut the US trade deficit with India, which is currently around $45 billion.
Defence and Counterterrorism Cooperation
Trump also emphasized the growth of defence relations, saying that the sales of the US military to India will rise by billions of dollars from this year.
He also reiterated US-India collaboration against radical Islamic terrorism across the globe. Mentioning the extradition of 26/11 Mumbai terror plotter Tahawwur Rana, Trump stated:
"I am glad to say that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the very bad people of the world."
Rana, held in a Los Angeles detention center, was a close associate of Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
"He is returning to India to meet justice," Trump declared, while suggesting that other extraditions might also be coming. "We have several requests (from New Delhi)."
Strengthening Energy and Nuclear Ties
Trump also pointed to the advancement in India-US civil-nuclear energy cooperation, highlighting the increasing momentum in bilateral ties in various sectors.
As India and the US keep strengthening their strategic partnership, both leaders have indicated their intention to further deepen cooperation in trade, defence, energy, and counterterrorism.
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