India–US relations have hit a turbulent patch in recent months, with tensions emerging over trade, tariffs and diplomatic slights. Preparations are now underway for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States in the last week of September, according to The Indian Express. Officially, the trip is to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, but its true significance lies in the possibility of a face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump to smoothen differences and reach a compromise on tariffs.
The backdrop of the Modi-Trump fallout is fraught. In June, Modi reportedly turned down an invitation from Trump to visit the White House alongside Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, a proposal New Delhi rejected outright. Since then, the tone between the two leaders has noticeably cooled. Matters worsened after the US imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, split between penalties for high Indian tariffs and for continuing to import Russian oil.
Two key sticking points in India-US Relations
For PM Modi’s September visit to deliver results, progress is required on two sensitive fronts, the Russia–Ukraine conflict and the India–US trade deal.
On Ukraine, India is closely monitoring Trump’s scheduled 15 August meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to explore a resolution to the war. Modi has already spoken to both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stressing that peace in the region is in India’s interest. Zelenskyy has even indicated plans for an in-person meeting with Modi in September on the sidelines of the UNGA.
On trade, negotiators from both sides had come close to finalising terms earlier this year. However, Trump was reportedly dissatisfied with the deal reached at the official level, prompting a fresh round of talks. The shared objective remains ambitious, ‘Mission 500,’ to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. This target was agreed upon when Modi met Trump at the White House in February, where they also committed to working on a wide-ranging Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) to be concluded in stages.
Push to repair India-US ties
The envisaged BTA aims to expand market access, cut tariffs and non-tariff barriers, and strengthen supply chain integration. But negotiations have run into “rough weather” and will require significant compromise before September’s end. The Prime Minister’s visit, according to officials, is expected to “dot the i’s and cross the t’s” if the remaining disputes can be ironed out.
The first step in scheduling the trip has already been taken, securing Modi’s speaking slot at the UNGA for the morning of September 26. Trump is set to address the assembly on September 23, raising the possibility of separate bilateral talks in New York.