On February 13th, 2025, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to Washington, DC to meet with US President Donald Trump, becoming one of the first foreign leaders in Trump’s second term to do so.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit came following a previous call between the two leaders on January 27th, 2025, during which President Trump invited India’s leader to the White House. During his official visit, Prime Minister Modi and President Trump jointly announced the new US-India COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century, a strategic framework which outlines future defense, trade, and technology cooperation between the two countries. Major highlights of the new framework include a greater emphasis on enhancing India’s military capabilities, strengthening bilateral trade amid recent tensions over tariffs, and exploring new partnerships regarding emerging technologies.
Two of the preeminent focuses of Prime Minister Modi’s visit concerned security cooperation and trade with the United States. The United States has significantly increased its defense cooperation with India and is currently its third biggest defense supplier. However, Russia remains the top defense supplier for India accounting for about 68% of India’s defense imports since 2008. The US-India partnership serves as an alternative for India to reduce its dependence on Russia and a means for the US to strengthen its relationship with an important Quad ally in the Indo-Pacific.
Following their discussions, Prime Minister Modi and President Trump announced the finalized procurement of several US-made defense articles, including transport and maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other artillery. The two also explored the possibility of sending American F-35 fighters to India’s air force and committed to supporting the overseas deployment of US and Indian militaries in the Indo-Pacific. Modi also held a introductory meeting with the newly confirmed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu-American to hold the position, to discuss intelligence-sharing initiatives.
In terms of trade, Prime Minister Modi’s visit comes amidst a backdrop of rising tensions over tariffs. Before the Prime Minister’s arrival at the White House, President Trump signed a presidential memorandum proposing reciprocal tariffs against countries like India that implement higher duties on American imports. The ensuing talks between the two leaders, however, proved to be a fruitful discussion towards a mutual resolution. The United States and India announced plans to negotiate a new bilateral trade agreement by the end of 2025, with a goal of boosting trade to around $500 billion by 2030—more than double the current figure estimate. India also committed to lowering tariffs on select US products such as bourbon and motorcycles, cracking down on illegal immigration into the US, and increasing market access for US agricultural and energy goods.
Another focal point of Modi’s visit was exploring US-India collaboration on technology and innovation. During the meeting, both countries announced they will accelerate government, academic, and private cooperation on developing and utilizing emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Prime Minister Modi also met with Telsa and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to discuss emerging technology issues and potential areas for collaboration with India.
Overall, Modi’s visit early into Trump’s second presidential term looks to further strengthen what the latter calls “a special bond” between “the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy.” Given India’s growing strategic importance in the region, efforts to further solidify the US-India relationship underscore the greater collective effort to maintain a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Lois Ramilo is a Spring Young Professional at the East West Center in Washington. She is a recent graduate from the University of California, San Diego where she majored in international relations.