Modi had established a good working relationship with Trump during his first term in office, and the two can build on the areas of convergence and “minimize areas of friction without conceding on core areas of national interest,” says Meera Shankar, India’s former ambassador to the U.S. “Most other partners have their reciprocal lists ready from the word go, because it’s a point of leverage when you negotiate," Shankar added, expressing hope that India “will find the right balance between firmness and flexibility” on the tariffs issue.
“Trump’s outreach to China will complicate India’s ability to cultivate the American desire to use India as a proxy against China without actually ever becoming one,” said Happymon Jacob, founder of the New Delhi-based Council for Strategic and Defense Research.
Modi — boosted by his ruling Hindu nationalist party's victory in the high-stakes state legislature election last weekend in India’s federal territory, including New Delhi — said before leaving for Washington that the visit was an “opportunity to build upon" collaboration during Trump's first term and “deepen our partnership” in areas such as technology, trade, defense and energy.
Modi — a nationalist criticized over India’s democratic backsliding — has welcomed Trump's return to the White House, seeking to reset India’s relationship with the West over his refusal to condemn Russia for its war on Ukraine.
The U.S. is India’s largest trade partner, with a trade deficit of $50 billion in India’s favor.
