Why is Donald Trump meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the US Presidential Polls?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United States from September 21 to 23 to participate in the 4th Quad Summit. While in the US, Modi is expected to meet former President Donald Trump, who confirmed the meeting himself.
"He happens to be coming to meet me next week," Trump remarked.

Why is Modi Meeting Trump?

India's Foreign Ministry has released the agenda for PM Modi's visit, which highlights meetings with thought leaders and key stakeholders in the India-US bilateral relationship. While a meeting with Trump is not explicitly mentioned, it is expected to happen.


Key events during PM Modi’s visit include:

• Addressing the Indian community in New York on September 22.
• Delivering a speech at the ‘Summit of the Future’ during the United Nations General Assembly on September 23.
• Engaging with CEOs of leading US companies to discuss collaboration in areas such as AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and biotechnology.

India has also agreed to host the Quad summit in 2025, reflecting the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to strengthening the Quad, with annual summits dating back to the first Quad Leaders Summit held at the White House in 2021.

Previously, Trump has referred to Modi as a "fantastic" leader, though he has criticized India as being a "big abuser."

"So when India, which is a very big abuser, happens to be coming to meet me next week... And Modi, he is fantastic. I mean, fantastic man. These leaders are fantastic. They're 100 per cent sharp," Trump was quoted as saying by Reuters.

"They're at the top of their game, and they use it against us. But India is very tough," Trump added.

The two leaders last met in February 2020, when Trump visited India and was welcomed with the "Namaste Trump" event in Ahmedabad, marking the inauguration of the world's largest cricket stadium. In 2019, during Modi's US visit, he participated in the "Howdy, Modi!" rally in Texas.