Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet with the United States President Donald Trump on Thursday at the White House, aiming to strengthen their previously warm relationship while addressing contentious issues like tariffs and immigration.
The two leaders are expected to hold a joint press conference, a rare event for Modi, who is known for his extensive use of social media but typically avoids engaging with the press.
Ahead of his visit, Modi has made significant tariff concessions, including a reduction in duties on high-end motorcycles, which is likely to please Harley-Davidson, an American brand that has faced challenges in the Indian market.
Additionally, India recently accepted a US military flight carrying 100 migrants as part of Trump's immigration reform efforts. Meanwhile, New Delhi has vowed its own "strong crackdown" on illegal migration.
India's top career diplomat Vikram Misri said last week that there had been a "very close rapport" between the leaders, although their ties have so far failed to bring a breakthrough on a long-sought bilateral trade deal.
Modi was among the first to congratulate "good friend" Trump after his November election win.
For nearly three decades, US presidents from both parties have prioritised building ties with India, seeing a natural partner against a rising China.
But Trump has also raged against India over trade, the biggest foreign policy preoccupation of his new term, in the past calling the world's fifth-largest economy the "biggest tariff abuser."
Former property tycoon Trump has unapologetically weaponized tariffs against friends and foes since his return.
'Trump's anger'
Modi "has prepared for this, and he is seeking to preempt Trump's anger," said Lisa Curtis, the National Security Council director on South Asia during Trump's first term.
The Indian premier's Hindu-nationalist government has meanwhile obliged Trump on another top priority: deporting undocumented immigrants.
While public attention has focused on Latin American arrivals, India is the third source of undocumented immigrants in the United States after Mexico and El Salvador.
Indian activists burned an effigy of Trump last week after the migrants on the US plane were flown back in shackles the whole journey, while the opposition accused Modi of weakness.
One thing Modi is likely to avoid, however, is any focus on his record on the rights of Muslims and other minorities.
Trump is unlikely to highlight an issue on which former president Joe Biden's administration offered gentle critiques.
Modi is the fourth world leader to visit Trump since his return, following the prime ministers of Israel and Japan and the king of Jordan.
Modi assiduously courted Trump during his first term. The two share much in common, with both campaigning on promises to promote the interests of their countries' majority communities over minorities and both doggedly pursuing critics.
In February 2020, Modi invited Trump before a cheering crowd of more than 100,000 people to inaugurate the world's largest cricket stadium in his home state of Gujarat.
Trump could visit India later this year for a scheduled summit of the Quad — a four-way grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the United States.
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