PM Narendra Modi US Visit Live Updates: ‘Substantive and productive,’ says MEA on PM Modi’s visit to US, bilateral talks with President Trump

African-American singer and actress Mary Millben said, "I'm looking forward to seeing what their agenda will be in the context of strengthening the relationship, and certainly India is an important partner. It's our most important democratic partner. So, I'm looking forward to hearing what the President and the Prime minister desire to do together to make the world a better place. That's what we're all here for, right, is to make the world a better place, and we are certainly facing some challenges across the world, and India plays a very significant and key part in mitigating some of these challenges that we're facing. And so it'll be an exciting day tomorrow."

The US flag in the Blair House was replaced with the Indian tricolour ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House.

A day prior, Modi met US Vice President J D Vance in Paris and discussed how the United States can assist India in diversifying its energy sourcing through investments in US nuclear technology.

The bilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of the AI Action summit before Modi left for the US to meet President Trump, less than a month after his return to the Oval Office. The Prime Minister, who left Marseille for Washington DC, will reach early Thursday India time.

IN CONTEXT: Officials say this is the earliest that an Indian Prime Minister has visited the White House – President Trump ends his third week in office. Only a handful of foreign leaders have visited White House since his inauguration on January 20 — Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba and Jordan’s King Abdullah. Even the British PM, who usually is among the first foreign leaders, hasn’t visited yet.

(Read the full report)

In a meeting with Tulsi Gabbard in Washington DC on Wednesday, PM Narendra Modi congratulated her for being confirmed as the Director of National Intelligence. She has been picked by the US President Donald Trump to lead the National Intelligence.

PM Modi also discussed various aspects of India-US relations with Tulsi Gabbard. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote "Met USA’s Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard in Washington DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation. Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she’s always been a strong votary."

Earlier on Wednesday, the US Senate confirmed the appointment of Gabbard to lead the National Intelligence and thereafter, she was sworn-in in the presence of President Trump.

In his first high level interaction with the US President Donald Trump's administration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Tulsi Gabbard, who is the Director of National Intelligence.

President Trump's pick Tulsi Gabbard to lead the National Intelligence was confirmed by the US Senate on Wednesday, just ahead of PM Modi's scheduled arrival to America.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the rousing welcome by the Indian diaspora outside of the Blair House in Washington DC, where he is bound to stay during his two day visit to the United States.

While receiving the welcome and interacting with the crowd of Indian diaspora, PM Modi posted pictures on X regarding his welcome.

PM Modi wrote, "A warm reception in the winter chill! Despite the cold weather, the Indian diaspora in Washington DC has welcomed me with a very special welcome. My gratitude to them."

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in the United States on Wednesday at 6pm (ET), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that "a new chapter" will be written in the India-US global strategic partnership.

In a post on X, the External Affairs ministry stated "A new chapter in the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. PM Narendra Modi arrives on an official working visit to Washington D.C., USA. During the visit, PM will meet US President Donald Trump, members of the US Cabinet & industry leaders."

After arriving in the Washington DC to meet US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he is looking forward to meet the US president and and build upon the India-USA Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote "Landed in Washington DC a short while ago. Looking forward to meeting @POTUS Donald Trump and building upon the India-USA Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Our nations will keep working closely for the benefit of our people and for a better future for our planet."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the Bair House, the US Presidential guest house right across the road from the White House, where he will be staying.

PM Modi will be staying at the Blair House during his 2-day visit to America and is poised to hold six bilateral meetings, followed by a bilateral talk with President Donald Trump at the White House. The day will conclude with a dinner being hosted by President Trump for the Indian prime minister.

The Indian diaspora has gathered outside the Blair House where PM Narendra Modi is poised to stay during his two day trip to the United States.

According to ANI, the Indian diaspora is braving the harsh winter and is ready to welcome PM Modi outside of the Blair House.

A member of the Indian diaspora said, "We have people on crutches, and they have braved this great winter and snow...we are excited to welcome PM Modi to America," ANI quoted.

PM Narendra Modi landed at the Joint Base Andrews air base in Maryland on Thursday at around 4:30am (IST), reported ANI. PM Modi is set to hold bilateral talks with US President Donald Trump on February 13 at the White House.

PM Narendra Modi has landed in the United States for his two-day visit, where he will hold bilateral talks with the US President Donald Trump amid tensions over trade, tariffs and immigration, deportation among others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Trump White House on February 12-13. Trump is in the fourth week of his second presidency and, officials say, this is the earliest in an American President’s term that an Indian Prime Minister has visited him.

Since his inauguration on January 20, Trump has so far met only Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. A meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah was scheduled for Tuesday.

A personal rapport

As of now, Trump appears focussed on his domestic agenda. He has also spoken of a controversial plan for Gaza, and imposed trade tariffs on several countries and categories of goods. The last, especially, is an area of concern for India.

Strategic alignment on China

Trump became the first US President to name China as a strategic threat and rival for the US. This was spelt out in the National Security Strategy in 2017.

McMaster wrote, “Japanese national security advisor Yachi Shotaro and Indian foreign secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar both shared their grave concerns over China’s increasingly aggressive behaviour.”

(Here's the full report)

As PM Narendra Modi is set to arrive in the United States, he will be staying at the Blair House which has been decked up with the Indian flag. Situated across the street from the White House at 1651 Pennsylvania Avenue, the residence has hosted multiple presidents, world leaders among others.

Blair House consists of 119 rooms, including 14 guest bedrooms, 35 bathrooms, and three formal dining rooms. And it is considered as the extension of the White House with an area of 70,000 square foot, reported ANI.

American singer Mary Millben, who sang the national anthem when PM Narendra Modi visited the US in 2023, said that it is wonderful and exciting that PM Modi is visiting the US again today to meet the newly inaugurated President Donald Trump.

Millben said, "It is wonderful that PM is going to be back in the US, arriving today. PM was here in 2023 for his arrival visit. I sang Indian National Anthem for PM and my beloved Indian American community...it is exciting that he is coming back and he will be meeting US President," ANI quoted.

PM Narendra Modi, who recently concluded his three day visit to France, shared a highlight of his visit to the French city of Marseille which came at the last leg of his visit to co-chair the AI Summit along with President Emmanuel Macron.

A range of bilateral issues are expected to be on the table, with foreign policy-watchers indicating that some of the sensitive issues may also figure in the discussions.

However, there is no official word yet on the agenda to be taken up during Modi's visit.

but, here are few key issues that are likely to be discussed-

Immigration & Deportation: India seeks humane treatment for deported citizens, as the US deports 104 Indian immigrants with 800 more expected. Modi aims to secure legal pathways for Indians traveling for work, study, and tourism.

Trade & Tariffs: Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum concern Indian businesses. India, labeled a "tariff king," has lowered tariffs on select US goods. Talks may focus on a fairer trade deal, expanded defense purchases, and increased US energy imports.

China & Strategic Ties: Unlike China, India is neither a US rival nor a traditional ally. Some Trump officials favor stronger US-India ties, emphasisng defense cooperation.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Wednesday (12 February) that President Donald Trump will unveil a reciprocal tariff plan ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.

“I do believe it will come before the prime minister’s visit tomorrow,” Leavitt said at the White House when asked about the announcement. “I will let the president discuss the details on the reciprocal tariff front, but this is something he believes strongly in.”

PM Modi is expected to meet Elon Musk during his visit to the United States this week, with discussions likely to include Starlink’s long-awaited entry into the Indian market, news agency Reuters reported citing sources.

Musk is set to hold one-on-one talks with Modi, where India’s government anticipates that Starlink’s delayed satellite broadband rollout in India will be a major point of conversation.

Starlink has been eager to launch services in India but has faced hurdles, particularly in securing the necessary licences.

In case you missed it: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met Vice President JD Vance and his Indian-origin wife Usha on the sidelines of the AI Summit in Paris.

This marked Modi’s first interaction with a member of Donald Trump’s newly elected administration.

In a video shared by PMO India, the prime minister was seen holding bilateral talks with Vance, while his wife watched on.

With just a few moments to go before Prime Minister Narendra Modi lands in United States, here's his full schedule for the next two days:

Here's what you need to know.

China is likely to impact India-US defence cooperation, Shubhajit Roy underlines while talking about strategic alignment between the two countries, whose leaders are set to meet on Wednesday.

Trump became the first US President to name China as a strategic threat and rival for the US.

As Trump wants India to buy more American equipment, such as drones, the China challenge will be an important glue that Modi and Trump discuss.

Here's the full explainer.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes his way to the United States, here's what experts have to say on what his meeting with US president Donald Trump would mean for the relationship between India, China and the US:

India is seen as integral to the US strategy of containing China in the Indo-Pacific, the Associated Press noted.

But India will likely have to recalibrate its stand in case of a Washington-Beijing thaw under Trump.

“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, AP quoted.

“Even a tactical accommodation between the U.S. and China has implications for India,” Meera Shankar, India's former diplomat to the US, emphasized. (AP)

With an hour to go before Prime Minister Narendra Modi lands in the United States, you might like to delve deeper on how the meeting between the Indian PM and US president Donald Trump would pan out amid trade, tariff and visa talks.

We bring you, from our Opinion section, Rorry Daniels' piece on what matters now between the two countries:

"What matters now for the India-US relationship is finding the areas on the margins of both sides’ ambitions where interests align. Beyond the immediate concerns of protecting the US domestic economy through trade restrictions and immigration sweeps, President Trump has ambitions to have the US industry lead in global development...," Daniels writes.

"India may consider how to make itself a key partner in both lines of effort without eroding the non-alignment that has been a hallmark of its global presence. The key will lie in layering India’s preferences onto the Trump administration’s actions."

Read the full Opinion here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for the United States Wednesday evening after wrapping up his visit to France where he co-chaired the Paris AI Action Summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, and held bilateral discussions, news agency PTI reported.

Watch here:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s longstanding bonhomie with President Donald Trump could be tested as the former geras up to visit Washington on Wednesday, eager to avoid tariffs that have been slapped on other countries, as well as threats of further taxes and imports, The Associated Press highlighted.

As tariff threats loom, the question remains how much a good rapport between two leaders matters and how far India will go to cut a deal.

Last month, when Modi spoke with Trump, the US president "emphasized the importance of India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment and moving toward a fair bilateral trading relationship," as per a readout released by the White House.

(Inputs from AP)

Experts weigh in:

With only a few hours left for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrive in the United States, we bring to you, from our Opinion pages today, C Raja Mohan's exclusive on how the meeting could serve as an opportunity to enable pragmatic engagement across sectors.

Mohan writes: "It is a moment of continuity and discontinuity; it is about India dealing with a familiar leader who is moving America into unfamiliar terrain. India had a good run with President Trump in his first term, and Delhi is now dealing with a different leader."

"So far so good, but the delicateness of the Indian task in Washington this week should not be underestimated. As Jaishankar put it, the test that Trump presents Indian diplomacy in his second term is quite “out of syllabus”."

Read the full Opinion piece here.

Prime Minister is expected to land in Washington on the evening of February 12 and is expected to hold the talks with President Trump the next day.

Where to Watch Live

The meeting will be broadcast live on PM Modi’s and the Ministry of External Affairs’ official social media platforms, with television news channels also providing coverage.

Official portals of White House are also likely to telecast the meeting.

United States President Donald Trump, in his second tenure, is revisiting the trade relationship and imposing tariffs across the sectors.

He has announced a sweeping 25% tariff for Mexico and Canadian goods, only to pause it for a month after having talks with their leaders.

However, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on China, escalating the fear of a wider trade war. Though Trump has trained his gun on India as well and described Delhi as a “tariff king” and “abuser” of tariffs in the past.

The US President has typically used threats of tariffs to negotiate better deals, and India has already slashed tariffs on high-end motorcycles and electric batteries ahead of Modi’s visit to smoothen the conversation.

A trade deal was being negotiated in the first term of the Trump administration, but couldn’t come to fruition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the United States Wednesday evening for high-stakes talks with US president Donald Trump.

Deportation and immigration

The visit comes amid a fresh immigration and deportation controversy shadowing the two countries. What is this controversy all about?

The Trump administration recently sent back a batch of 104 Indian illegal immigrants who were chained and boarded on a military aircraft.

According to reports, another 800 individuals, 487 Indian citizens and 298 others in the final stages of verification are bound to be deported soon. Delhi has backed its citizens but “registered concerns” about the treatment of Indians by the American administration.

For India, receiving illegal immigrants is part of complying with international law, but the handcuffs and shackles — part of US SOP — carry the politically damaging perception of “weakness” vis-à-vis another country.

As such, the humane treatment of Indian deportees will likely come up during Modi’s meeting with Trump. Moreover, ndia would like to ensure that the movement of Indians to the US through legal channels — for study, work, or tourism — is not affected.

Shubhajit Roy explains.