PM Modi likely to meet Trump next month in US as trade tensions simmer

In light of deteriorating relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) next month, and preparations are underway to meet with President Donald Trump to resolve trade-related concerns.

According to sources, PM Modi is also expected to meet at high levels with foreign leaders, including Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, in addition to Trump. In September, New York City will host the UNGA summit. In the week beginning September 23, world leaders will begin to arrive. Following PM Modi’s visit to the White House in February of this year, if the meeting happens, it will be the second time the two leaders have met in seven months.

According to sources, Trump is eager to see Modi as well. In fact, when Modi was in Canada for the G7 Summit in June, Trump extended an invitation for him to come to Washington.

Modi then turned down the invitation because he was concerned that Trump might try to set up a meeting with Asim Munir, the head of the Pakistan Army, who was also in the US at the time. According to sources, PM Modi would personally invite Trump to India for the QUAD summit in October if the meeting goes well. The other QUAD members are Japan and Australia.

Sources claim that Trump is also excited to visit Modi. Actually, Trump invited Modi to visit Washington in June while he was in Canada for the G7 Summit. Then, worried that Trump could attempt to arrange a meeting with Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir, who was also in the US at the time, Modi declined the request.

If the meeting is successful, reports claim that PM Modi would personally invite Trump to India for the QUAD summit in October. Australia and Japan are QUAD’s other members.

New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil, which the White House claims is funding Moscow’s conflict in Ukraine, is another significant issue that has turned into a cause of contention between the US and India.

In an attempt to compel Moscow to halt the conflict in Ukraine, Trump has been criticizing India for its purchases of Russian oil and putting pressure on New Delhi to reduce imports.
However, India has strongly reacted to the criticism, calling the US hypocritical and pointing out that American businesses still purchase fertilizer, chemicals, and uranium from Russia.