After a fruitful meeting with President Donald Trump, PM Narendra Modi said when America and India work together, MAGA (Make America Great Again) plus MIGA (Make India Great Again) becomes a ‘mega partnership for prosperity'.
Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to Washington under Donald Trump's second term was a sober, business-first affair, which also cemented their personal bonding further amid a thick snow blanket and freezing temperature outside.
As the two leaders met and exchanged pleasantries, their warm hug stole the limelight. Trump described PM Modi as a ‘great friend’ and also said, “We missed you, we missed you a lot” while embracing him.
In a significant reaffirmation of their partnership, PM Modi and Trump highlighted the robust India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, rooted in mutual trust and shared democratic values, as they met.
During their high-profile meeting in Washington, the leaders emphasized their commitment to freedom, the rule of law, human rights, and pluralism, signaling a strong and vibrant alliance between their nations.
During a joint press conference, President Trump praised PM Modi's leadership, calling him "a special man" and "a great leader". He also acknowledged PM Modi's significant contributions to India's progress, stating, "He is a great leader and doing really a great job in India. Everybody talks about him. He's really doing a fantastic job."
According to PM Modi, a joint vision of 'MAGA' and 'MIGA' becomes a mega partnership for prosperity. "The people of America are well aware of President Trump's motto 'MAGA - Make America Great Again.' The people of India too are focusing on heritage and development as they move forward at a fast pace and with a firm resolve towards the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047,” he said.
“In the language of America, it's Make India Great Again - MIGA. When America and India work together, this MAGA plus MIGA (Make India Great Again) becomes a 'mega partnership for prosperity' and it is this mega spirit that gives new scale and scope to our objectives," the PM stressed.
The two leaders also announced that India and the US have set a $500 billion target for bilateral trade by 2030. "Today, we have also set a target to increase our bilateral trade to more than double, reaching $500 billion by 2030. Our teams will work on finalizing a mutually beneficial trade agreement," PM Modi said, adding that the two countries are moving forward in the direction of joint development, joint production, and transfer of technology.
"We will strengthen oil and gas trade to ensure India's energy security. In the energy infrastructure, investment will increase. America plays a key role in India's defense preparedness. In the coming days, new technology and equipment will increase our capacity," he said.
PM Modi also announced that Washington and New Delhi are pushing to conclude a "mutually beneficial trade agreement" in the coming days. The country also said it will take back any verified Indian illegal migrants in the US and will also crack down on human traffickers who exploit vulnerable people. India and the US “have always been of the same opinion, and that any verified Indian who is in the US illegally, we are fully prepared to take them back to India”, said PM Modi.
PM Modi also had a "fruitful" meeting with the "great friend of India" US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Vivek Ramaswamy, a rising US politician, about relations between the two countries.
Earlier, he met Tulsi Gabbard, US Director of National Intelligence, and discussed various aspects of ties between the two countries with a focus on enhancing intelligence cooperation in counter-terrorism and emerging threats.
PM Modi, who is the fourth world leader to visit the US since Trump's return to the White House, also his close aide and billionaire Elon Musk on February 13. It was an honor to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Musk, after the duo discussed a host of issues like space, mobility, technology, and innovation.
On February 14, Modi departed for New Delhi after concluding a highly productive visit to the US, marked by key diplomatic engagements and strategic agreements.
Rana's extradition big win for IndiaWashington: The Trump administration’s decision to extradite Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in 26/11 attacks, immediately is a big victory for India and the credit for this should go to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal relations with the US President. The US President announced that Tahawwur Rana will be extradited to India. He is currently imprisoned at a high-security prison in the United States. Recently, the US Supreme Court denied his petition over conviction in the terror attacks, paving the way for his extradition. Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Pakistani-origin businessman, has been convicted for his role in the 26/11 attacks that resulted in the death of 164 people. His co-conspirators included David Headley, who pleaded guilty and co-operated against Rana. Pakistan rattled A joint statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump calling on Pakistan to ensure its territory is not used to carry out "cross-border terror attacks" has singed Islamabad. Expressing disappointment, Pakistan's Foreign Affairs spokesperson called the reference to the country "one-sided, misleading, and contrary to diplomatic norms". In his weekly briefing, hours after the meeting between PM Modi and Trump in Washington DC, Shafqat Ali Khan said Pakistan was "surprised" by the inclusion of such remarks without acknowledging its sacrifices. |
