Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to the United States in December to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit in Florida, according to sources familiar with the preparations. The high-profile gathering of world leaders will be hosted by US President Donald Trump.
The G20 Summit is scheduled for December 14-15 at the Trump National Doral Miami in Florida. This marks the first time the US has hosted the multilateral summit since 2009, bringing together major economies to discuss global challenges.
Potential Modi-Trump Bilateral Meeting
Should PM Modi's travel plans to Florida be finalized, a bilateral meeting with President Trump on the sidelines of the summit is highly anticipated. This potential discussion comes amidst ongoing engagement between India and the US on various aspects of bilateral cooperation, including trade relations.
A key topic for discussion could be the looming threat of 100 percent tariffs on Indian imports, particularly in connection with India's purchases of Russian oil. Both nations have been actively working on resolving trade-related issues and enhancing strategic partnerships.
Quad Leaders' Summit and Strengthening Ties
In addition to the G20 discussions, preparations are also underway for a possible Quad leaders' summit to take place concurrently. The Quad, comprising the United States, India, Australia, and Japan, focuses on security and economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, recently indicated the significance of PM Modi to President Trump. "If you asked the President, 'You have 35 people coming. Who do you want to see?', the Prime Minister would be at the top of that list," Gor told India Today TV earlier this month, underscoring the strong personal rapport between the two leaders.
Ambassador Gor further elaborated on Trump's fond memories of his 2020 visit to India and suggested the possibility of President Trump returning to India next year. He also hinted at more frequent visits by senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is expected to visit India again in October, only months after his previous four-day visit. "This is very rare, that the Secretary of State would come twice in such a short time. My message was very clear: get used to it," Gor stated, signaling Washington's commitment to a closer relationship with New Delhi.