Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump has announced that he will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week, as reported by Bloomberg. This meeting adds to a series of engagements with foreign leaders that Trump has been engaging in as he seeks to win the 2024 US presidential election, amid global anxieties about a potential Republican return to power.
Trump’s recent meetings with world leaders, including Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, Polish President Andrzej Duda, and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, underscore the international attention surrounding the upcoming US elections.
While speaking at a town hall in Flint, Michigan, Trump highlighted his meeting with PM Modi, stating, “He happens to be coming to meet me next week, and Modi, he’s fantastic.” Trump also used the opportunity to address issues like free trade and protecting US jobs, with Reuters reporting that he labeled India a “very big abuser” of the US-India trade relationship.
This event marked Trump’s first public appearance since a second apparent assassination attempt against him on September 15th.
The meeting between Trump and Modi comes amidst PM Modi’s visit to the US this weekend to attend the Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, Delaware. He will then address the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 23rd.
The US considers India a crucial counter to China’s growing influence in Asia, according to Bloomberg. The Biden administration has emphasized its commitment to collaborating with India on crucial technologies such as artificial intelligence and defense. However, the report acknowledges that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and India’s relationship with Russia have presented challenges.
Trump and Modi have cultivated a close relationship during Trump’s presidency, highlighted by Trump’s visit to India in 2020. The enthusiasm surrounding this relationship was evident at Trump’s rally, where audience members wore “Namaste Trump” hats. This echoes the large-scale “Howdy, Modi!” rally in Texas in 2019, which drew over 50,000 attendees.
The upcoming meeting between Trump and Modi is sure to generate significant attention, as it reflects the complex dynamics of the US-India relationship amidst geopolitical shifts and Trump’s renewed campaign for the presidency.
