Modi’s visit to Washington produced substantive outcomes, but left a few unanswered questions
Narendra Modi is only the third head of government or state, after Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and Japan's Shigeru Ishiba, to be received in Washington after Donald Trump's second inauguration as president of the US. This reflects the importance the US under Trump continues to attach to its relations with India. It also reflects the affinity, both personal and ideological, that Modi and Trump appear to share.
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There were significant and substantive outcomes, as reflected in the joint statement issued on Feb 13 during Modi's visit. These include the 'US-India COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) for the 21st Century', the decision to conclude a new 10-year framework for 'US-India Major Defense Partnership in the 21st Century', and an 'Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA)'.
The bilateral defence and military relationship will, thus, continue to serve as an anchor, despite unsettling political changes in Washington. The challenge will be on the economic and trade relationship given Trump's obsession with tariffs and reducing trade deficits with partner countries. Even in the presence of Modi, Trump didn't hesitate to harshly criticise India on its high tariffs, and called for the imposition of reciprocal tariffs generally.
India may have gained some breathing space by holding out the
