Trade, AI, and meeting with Musk on PM Modi's agenda for US visit: Report

PM Narendra Modi is set for a one-day visit to the United States to meet with the newly re-elected President Donald Trump, where reports say that the tariffs, military purchases, energy and AI are part of the agenda for discussion.

According to a report by the Times of India, PM Modi will likely reach the US late on February 12. He will then spend the whole of February 13 in the country before departing early on February 14. Modi will be the second foreign leader to visit Trump since the latter's re-election, following a visit from Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

Reports suggest that PM Modi will discuss trade, military purchases, energy (including nuclear) supplies, and collaboration in the field of AI between the two nations.

Given the bolder approach from Trump this time around regarding tariffs, India has already taken various steps to avoid trade wars and will look to this meeting to ease any tensions on that front. Among the steps taken are cuts to duties on imports from textiles to motorcycles, as was stated by FM Nirmala Sitharaman during the Union Budget 2025.

India also readily accepted the over 100 illegal immigrants from India that The US deported.

Further, while the US Congress and its members are typically given more importance, this time, with the rise of Elon Musk as Trump's closest aid, reports suggest that a meeting with the tech billionaire is on the cards for PM Modi.

While the exact agenda is yet to be discerned, a dinner with President Trump is certain, TOI reported. And with Musk having set up camp at the Old Executive Office Building next door, he is likely to be present during meetings.

Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel are also likely to be confirmed for their posts as Director of National Intelligence and FBI director respectively. With them being reported as having strong ties to the Modi dispensation, discussions on intelligence cooperation are also likely.

Before the US, Modi will visit Paris from February 10 to 11 to attend the AI Action Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Following that, he will fly to Washington DC to meet Trump at the White House and then return to New Delhi.