Indian Prime Minister Modi lauds US President Trump, stating that he is committed to “Make India Great Again,” or “MIGA”—a reference to the US president’s “MAGA” or “Make America Great Again” slogan and drive.
As he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to increase commerce, US President Donald Trump proposed to sell India cutting-edge fighter jets, reviving a relationship that defies the new US administration’s punitive stance against much of the globe.
Modi referred to the fellow nationalist as a “friend” and informed him that he was taking up his “Make America Great Again” motto. Modi is only the fourth international leader to visit the White House since Trump’s return.
In an unusual, if amusing, display of humility, Trump praised Modi as a “much tougher negotiator” than himself and claimed to have developed a “special bond” with Modi and India.
In the face of a growing China, India has been viewed as a vital ally with similar objectives by successive US administrations. Trump declared that the new administration was prepared to sell F-35s, one of the most valuable US military assets.
“Starting this year, we’ll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars,” Trump and Modi said at a joint news conference.
“We’re also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters,” Trump stated.
Trump and Modi agreed that the two nations will cooperate on a trade agreement after Trump railed about Indian tariffs just hours before their meeting.
Modi stated, “We will concentrate on oil and gas trade to secure India’s energy security,” anticipating the signing of a “mutually beneficial trade agreement” “very soon.”
In order to reach $500 billion by 2030, we have set the goal of more than tripling our bilateral trade. “Very soon, our teams will work to conclude a trade agreement that benefits both parties,” Modi continued.
Elon Musk, the mogul of SpaceX and Tesla who has been Trump’s right-hand man and has started a vigorous campaign to restructure the US bureaucracy, joined Trump during his meeting with Modi.
Earlier on Thursday, Musk met with Modi one-on-one, raising concerns over whether the richest man in the world was seeing the Indian PM in an official or business capacity.
With a number of kids on Musk’s side of the room and Indian officials on the other, the Indian prime shared photos of himself shaking hands with the happy Musk.
Later, Modi claimed to have known Musk before he was appointed prime minister.
Tariffs that fluctuate
During the discussion with Modi, Trump stepped up his tariff policies.
“Whatever India charges, we charge them,” Trump declared during a joint news conference. “So frankly, it no longer matters to us that much what they charge.”
He continued, “Really, we want a certain level playing field.”
Trump has before threatened to impose duties on the head of the most populated country in the world.
India is “right at the top of the pack” in terms of tariffs, according to Trump. He stated that “India charges tremendously high tariffs” , and recalled that “Harley Davidson couldn’t sell their motorbikes in India because of the fact that in India — the tariff was so high.”
“Harley had to construct… However, I believe that they constructed a factory in India to evade paying the tariffs. And people can do the same with us.
The US president slapped retaliatory duties on all nations, including India, just hours before the summit. New Delhi is trying to avoid additional taxes, which Trump claims are necessary to address the US trade deficit.
India has historically had the highest tariffs, or almost the highest. They have the highest tariffs of any nation. We’ll be discussing it, I mean,” Trump had earlier told reporters.
“India is a very hard place to do business because of the tariffs.”
India had shown “early body language,” according to US officials, but there was still “a lot more work to do.”
Prior to his arrival, Modi made swift tariff concessions, with New Delhi lowering taxes on luxury motorcycles. This helped Harley-Davidson, the well-known American automaker whose problems in India have irritated Trump.
As part of Trump’s immigration reform, India this week welcomed a US military plane carrying 100 chained migrants, and New Delhi has promised a “strong crackdown” of its own on illegal migration.
During his first tenure, the Indian prime minister actively pursued Trump.
Modi praised Trump profusely on Thursday as well, stating that he is committed to “Make India Great Again,” or “MIGA.” That is a parody of the catchphrase and movement of the US president, “MAGA,” or “Make America Great Again.”
The two are similar in that they both campaigned on pledges to support majority populations over minority groups and steadfastly suppressed criticism.
In 2020, Modi asked Trump to inaugurate the world’s largest cricket stadium in his home state of Gujarat in front of an enthusiastic throng of over 100,000 people.
Later this year, Trump may travel to India for a Quad summit, which consists of the United States, Australia, Japan, and India.
