As Narendra Modi’s plane touched down in Washington on Wednesday evening, India’s prime minister arrived with a pivotal goal: avoiding U.S. President Donald Trump’s ire while seeking to ease punishing tariffs.
Despite Trump’s controversial first weeks in office, Indian officials remain cautiously optimistic about maintaining strong diplomatic ties with their largest trade partner. India’s foreign minister previously stated that the country isn’t “nervous about the U.S.”
However, tensions loom over key issues—trade and immigration. With New Delhi striving to shield its economy from repercussions, the stakes are high.
Immigration remains particularly sensitive, with Indians comprising the third-largest group of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., totaling approximately 725,000. On trade, Trump’s accusations of India being a “very big abuser” of tariffs have already prompted considerations in New Delhi to lower duties on certain U.S. exports like bourbon and pecans.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss increased Indian purchases of American defense equipment and liquefied natural gas.
Meanwhile, protests erupted in India after 104 deported nationals arrived shackled and handcuffed on a U.S. military plane in Amritsar. A second deportation flight is reportedly imminent. The treatment has fueled domestic criticism, with the opposition Congress Party pressing Modi’s government for answers.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar downplayed the controversy, stating deportation flights were routine under previous administrations, though he pledged efforts to ensure humane treatment for deportees in the future.
Families of deported individuals, like Swarn Singh’s, expressed anguish over losing their livelihoods to fund failed migration attempts. Singh spent over $90,000 to send his son Akashdeep to the U.S. illegally, only for him to be deported after detention. The emotional toll is immense, with Akashdeep’s mother admitting to battling depression over their plight.
Despite the uproar, Modi is unlikely to confront Trump aggressively. Indian officials aim to avoid trade friction while advocating for better legal pathways for skilled workers. The meeting will test the limits of the leaders’ much-publicized camaraderie.
Back in India’s Punjab state, fear of escalating deportations grips many families, as college student Rajanpreet Singh noted the growing resignation among those with relatives abroad.
“People are really scared,” he said. “Many of those who went illegally will be forced to return.”
Source: Swifteradio.com
