Both on optics and atmospherics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not have asked for more. A warm welcome to the White House with the usual handshakes and hugs, the Blair House meetings with the folks that matter in the Republican administration like Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and the First Friend, the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and a one time Presidential aspirant and billionaire Indian American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to mention a few.
Flying into the tariffs town must have been an experience by itself for the Indian delegation, not knowing what exactly to expect from the 47th President Donald J Trump. For a person who started off with tariffs with allies like Canada and Mexico and long time adversary China, Trump had long labelled India as a “tariff King”.
Even an hour before the much awaited summit, Trump floated the idea of announcing new measures against those who posted surpluses. That officials of the administration had been tasked to “analyse” the tit-for-tat numbers led to all-round relief.
So what would Modi “bring back” from this visit? India will buy more oil and natural gas from the US and will be the recipient of top flight fighter jets; a target of $500 billion bilateral trade by 2030; the two countries working together on artificial intelligence, semi-conductors and establishment of strong supply chains. Also Trump’s acknowledgement that India is reforming its laws to welcome American nuclear technologies will cheer the Indian side.
Rana extradition
Perhaps the biggest tangible catch was in Trump’s approval for the extradition of Mumbai terror accused Tahawwur Rana to face trial. “I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters and one of the very evil people of the world, having to do with the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack to face justice in India”, Trump said. With Rana having said to have exhausted all legal avenues, focus now shifts to the procedural and logistics front of the handover.
Both India and the US have a long way to go in coming to the real substance of what have been broadly agreed upon. As is normally the case, the leaders have agreed upon the broad framework and now it is left to officials to hammer out the details, both at the macro and micro levels.
Getting a fleet of the state-of-the-art fighter jets like the F-35 may be music to some ears but complex issues pertaining to technology transfer, ready availability of spares and legislative contingencies will have to be carefully looked at. All of this in a realisation that a one-off defence deal does not address the trade deficit-surplus issue.
Expectedly neither Trump nor Modi dwelt publicly on the issue of immigration — illegal by way of the thousands of Indian overstayers and legal who are looking at H-1Bs, Optional Practical Training permits, a better path and time frame to obtaining Green Cards and even those waiting for months for a tourist visa.
Illegal immigration has not been a bone of contention between New Delhi and Washington with India making it known that it will take back bonafide citizens. Trump will have to soft pedal on the H-1Bs keeping in mind the sentiments of the hardline MAGA (Make America Great Again) crowd where even people like Musk will have to tread slowly.
Over and beyond what has been seen, heard and read, leaders’ summit rarely go on a planned note as principals are free to talk about anything they want to, including the weather. The real conversation between Modi and Trump may never be known; but the “MEGA” partnership for prosperity that Modi put forth (MAGA plus MIGA or Make India Great Again) requires time and patience.
The writer is a senior journalist who has reported from Washington DC on North America and UN