Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited President Donald Trump to India for Quad Leaders Summit
New Delhi: According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited President Donald Trump to the Quad Leaders’ Summit, which India will host later this year, when he was in the United States.
The US-India collaboration in promoting a free, open, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region was also reaffirmed during the two leaders’ talks. The leaders emphasized their dedication to freedom of navigation, international law, and ASEAN centrality.
In a joint statement, the MEA stated, “Prime Minister Modi looks forward to hosting President Trump in New Delhi for the Quad leaders’ Summit, ahead of which the leaders will activate new Quad initiatives on shared airlift capacity to support civilian response to natural disasters and maritime patrols to improve interoperability.”
“The leaders reiterated that a free, open, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region depends on strong cooperation between the United States and India. The leaders reaffirmed that their partnership as Quad partners is supported by the following: advocacy for peaceful resolution of maritime disputes in accordance with international law; recognition of ASEAN centrality; adherence to international law and good governance; support for safety and freedom of navigation, overflight, and other lawful uses of the seas; and unhindered lawful commerce,” the statement continued.
A diplomatic alliance of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India, the QUAD is dedicated to promoting an inclusive, resilient, and open Indo-Pacific.
Additionally, with plans to unveil new projects in 2025, PM Modi and President Trump agreed to deepen collaboration and diplomatic discussions, especially in the Middle East.
“The leaders decided to strengthen diplomatic contacts, expand concrete cooperation, and deepen cooperation with Middle Eastern allies. In order to promote peace and security in the area, they emphasized the need for funding vital infrastructure and commercial corridors. Within the next six months, the leaders want to meet with partners from the I2U2 Group and the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor to unveil new projects for 2025,” MEA said.
In its joint statement, the MEA said that the US valued India’s contribution to the Indian Ocean Region as a supplier of net security, humanitarian relief, and development.
“In this regard, the leaders established the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture and pledged to strengthen bilateral communication and collaboration across the expansive Indian Ocean area. The leaders praised Meta’s announcement of a multi-billion, multi-year investment in an undersea cable project that will start construction this year and eventually span over 50,000 km to connect five continents and fortify global digital highways in the Indian Ocean region and beyond. They also backed increased connectivity in the Indian Ocean. India plans to use reliable suppliers to finance, maintain, and repair underwater cables in the Indian Ocean, according to the MEA.
In order to expand ties, trade, and collaboration in the areas of defense, technology, energy, and vital minerals, PM Modi and President Trump also acknowledged the need for establishing new plurilateral anchor partnerships in the Western Indian Ocean, Middle East, and Indo-Pacific. By the autumn of 2025, the leaders anticipate announcing additional collaboration projects in these sub-regions.
In order to promote world peace and security, the leaders also decided to strengthen military cooperation in multinational contexts. In order to assist in protecting water channels in the Arabian Sea, the leaders praised India’s intention to assume a future leadership position in the Combined Maritime Forces naval task force, the MEA said.
Following Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, PM Modi and Trump had their first face-to-face meeting.
Notably, US President Trump welcomed PM Modi to the White House on Thursday (local time), and the two hugged each other.
According to Trump, he, Prime Minister Modi, and the two countries have “great unity and great friendship.” It is “important” that countries stay unified, he said.
Trump emphasized that the two countries’ connections would strengthen during his meeting with Prime Minister Modi.
In addition to expressing his happiness to see US President Donald Trump return to the White House for a second term, Prime Minister Modi said he is certain that the two nations will continue to develop their strategic alliance with the US with the “same bond, trust, and excitement.”
In his speech, Prime Minister Modi said that, after 60 years in office, the Indian people have also granted him the chance to serve them for a third consecutive term.
Within three weeks after President Trump’s inauguration, PM Modi received an invitation to visit the US, making him one of the first few international leaders to do so.
