Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States in February 2025 marked another important chapter in the evolving bilateral relations between India and the U.S. As the leaders of the world’s two largest democracies, PM Modi and President Donald Trump met to discuss various issues, primarily focusing on economic cooperation, defense, trade imbalances, and immigration policies. While the visit was framed around mutual strategic interests, it also highlighted areas of potential conflict, such as human rights concerns, which were notably absent from public discussions during the visit.
- Economic and Trade Cooperation
The most significant aspect of Modi’s visit to the U.S. was the deepening of economic ties between the two countries. The trade discussions touched upon both nations’ shared interest in expanding trade relations to address existing imbalances and create more equitable economic opportunities.
Trade Imbalances: The United States has long raised concerns about the trade deficit with India. As of 2025, the U.S. trade deficit with India stands at approximately $45.6 billion, and President Trump made it clear that this issue needed urgent attention. During the visit, President Trump discussed how the U.S. was seeking to reduce its deficit by encouraging India to increase its purchases of American products, including technology, oil, and gas. Both leaders agreed on the importance of resolving trade imbalances while emphasizing mutual benefits from increased trade.
In this context, PM Modi committed to enhancing India’s procurement of U.S. goods. The goal is to bring bilateral trade between India and the U.S. to $500 billion annually by 2030. Both countries explored sectors where cooperation could be ramped up, with particular focus on high-value products like clean energy technologies, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. As a step forward, India and the U.S. agreed to implement measures aimed at improving market access, with a view to increasing economic engagement.
Tariff Disputes and Trade Reforms: Tariffs remained a contentious issue. The U.S. has long criticized India’s tariffs on American products, particularly on agricultural goods and automobiles. In response to this, President Trump announced plans to implement reciprocal tariffs on countries that impose higher duties on U.S. goods. Specifically, Trump pointed to India’s high tariffs on U.S. vehicles, a situation that has contributed to trade tension. The leaders agreed that addressing these tariff disputes would be crucial for a mutually beneficial trading relationship.
PM Modi assured that India would review its trade policies and make necessary adjustments to ensure a more balanced trade environment, particularly in sectors like agriculture, where the U.S. seeks greater access to the Indian market.
- Defense and Security Collaboration
Defense cooperation continues to be a cornerstone of the Indo-US relationship, with both countries recognizing the strategic importance of strengthening their military ties, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. The 2025 visit underscored the growing importance of defense and security cooperation as India seeks to modernize its defense capabilities and counter rising regional challenges, particularly from China.
Military Cooperation and Technology Transfer: Discussions centered on increasing joint defense exercises, military training, and technological collaboration. The U.S. has been a key partner in India’s defense modernization program, providing advanced military technology, including fighter jets, drones, and radar systems.
President Trump and PM Modi agreed on the importance of enhancing military interoperability between the Indian Armed Forces and the U.S. military. Furthermore, there was a strong emphasis on furthering defense cooperation through technology transfer, ensuring that India can bolster its defense infrastructure in a rapidly changing global security environment.
Additionally, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to counterterrorism efforts, acknowledging the shared threats of terrorism and extremism, particularly in South Asia.
- Immigration and Deportation
One of the more sensitive topics that arose during the visit was immigration. The issue of Indian nationals living illegally in the U.S. has been a source of tension in recent years, with U.S. authorities ramping up deportations under the Trump administration. PM Modi, in a direct appeal, acknowledged the issue and conveyed that India would be willing to accept its nationals deported by the U.S., provided that their identities were verified.
The Deportation Agreement: This issue gained significant attention as it was reported that over 100 Indian nationals had been deported from the U.S. prior to the visit. While the Indian government expressed its commitment to supporting the deportation process, there were concerns within India regarding the treatment of deportees and the broader impact on the Indo-U.S. relationship.
The leaders agreed on creating better mechanisms to ensure that deportation processes are transparent and humane, and that India’s support is provided through diplomatic channels.
- Human Rights and Minority Concerns
Interestingly, one area where discussions seemed to stall was human rights. Several international observers had hoped that the treatment of minorities, particularly Muslims, in India would be addressed during PM Modi’s visit. However, there was no public mention of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) or the treatment of religious minorities in India, particularly in light of ongoing protests and concerns raised by human rights organizations.
Avoidance of Controversial Issues: While the U.S. has historically raised concerns about religious freedom in India, the Trump-Modi discussions largely avoided these contentious topics. The absence of such discussions sparked debate, with critics arguing that this was a missed opportunity to address pressing human rights issues.
It is noteworthy that such a diplomatic choice highlights the complex nature of international relations, where economic and strategic interests often take precedence over human rights concerns. This silence on minority issues was particularly telling, given the growing attention on India’s domestic policies both within the U.S. and the international community.
- Global Collaboration on Climate Change
Climate change was also an important agenda item, with both leaders acknowledging the need for greater collaboration on global environmental challenges. PM Modi and President Trump discussed the need for innovative solutions to combat climate change and transition to sustainable energy sources. The countries agreed to enhance cooperation in clean energy technologies, such as solar and wind power, and committed to reducing carbon emissions to meet global climate goals.
India, which is a key player in the global fight against climate change, reiterated its commitment to the Paris Agreement, while the U.S. acknowledged India’s ambitious renewable energy goals and pledged support for green investments.
A Pragmatic Approach to Strengthening Ties
Prime Minister Modi’s 2025 visit to the United States illustrated the growing strength of Indo-US ties, built on shared economic, defense, and geopolitical interests. The discussions were largely framed around enhancing cooperation and addressing areas of friction, such as trade imbalances, tariffs, and immigration.
While the omission of human rights and minority discussions may have drawn criticism, the visit underscores the pragmatic nature of international diplomacy, where both nations prioritized issues such as defense, economic cooperation, and climate change. The strategic partnership between the two largest democracies in the world continues to evolve, with significant implications for regional and global stability.
