Modi-Trump 2.0: Trade Tensions, Defense Deals & Immigration Battles Ahead

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the White House just three weeks after Donald Trump’s return to power, but the road ahead won’t be easy. As Trump pushes for tougher trade policies and a “fair deal” with India, tensions could rise between the two nations. The U.S. President has called India one of the biggest “trade abusers” and is pushing for tit-for-tat tariffs. Meanwhile, India’s 2025 Budget has proposed tariff cuts on key U.S. exports, a move that may ease tensions—but is it enough? Defence deals, nuclear agreements, and a stalled trade pact are also in play. Beyond economics, immigration will be a major point of discussion. With growing resentment towards Indian immigrants in the U.S. and debates around expanding the H-1B visa program, the stakes are high. Will Modi and Trump navigate these challenges to strengthen ties, or are we heading into a turbulent phase in U.S.-India relations?