Modi arrives in US for talks with Trump (VIDEO)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Washington, DC, on Wednesday evening for a two-day visit to the US following an invitation from President Donald Trump. The bilateral talks between the two leaders are expected to focus on key areas such as trade, defense, and counterterrorism, according to New Delhi.

Modi’s plane landed at Joint Base Andrews shortly after 6pm local time. During his stay on February 12-13, the Indian leader is expected to reside at Blair House, the official US presidential guest house situated across from the White House. The Indian diaspora greeted him “with a very special warm welcome” despite the cold weather as he traveled to the residence.

“Looking forward to meeting President Donald Trump and building upon the India-USA Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Our nations will keep working closely for the benefit of our people and for a better future for our planet,” Modi wrote in a post on X.

Besides his highly anticipated meeting with Trump on the second day of the visit, Modi has at least six other meetings scheduled, according to the Times of India. Reuters also reported that he is likely to meet Elon Musk to discuss the potential entry of Starlink into the Indian market.

However, Modi’s first high-profile meeting was with Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, who was confirmed by the US Senate as director of national intelligence just hours earlier following scrutiny on Capitol Hill over her past positions.

“Met USA’s Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, in Washington, DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation. Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she’s always been a strong votary,” Modi said in another post.

Ahead of his visit to Washington, Modi expressed optimism, stating that the trip would provide an opportunity to build on past successes and create a roadmap for further collaboration. He highlighted key areas of focus, including technology, trade, defense, energy, and supply chain resilience.