The President’s Inbox cover image

The President’s Inbox

Modi Meets Trump, With Tanvi Madan

Feb 18, 2025
Tanvi Madan, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and expert on U.S.-India relations, discusses the significant meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump. She highlights how personal dynamics influence their diplomatic relationship, alongside India's impressive trade surplus with the U.S. The conversation delves into complex immigration issues and their impact on bilateral ties. Lastly, Madan touches on Modi and Trump's navigation of critical geopolitical challenges, showcasing India's quest for autonomy amid global pressures.
33:10

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The meeting underscored India's proactive approach to U.S. trade relations by addressing tariffs and proposing a bilateral trade agreement by 2025.
  • A pivotal aspect of the discussion involved enhancing defense cooperation between the U.S. and India in response to shared concerns about China's assertiveness.

Deep dives

India's Strategic Intentions

India's recent diplomatic visit to the U.S. marked an unprecedented effort to strengthen ties early in a new administration. The visit focused on avoiding potential conflicts and laying foundations for future progress in U.S.-India relations, highlighting the importance of the Quad grouping involving Australia, Japan, India, and the U.S. From India's perspective, this meant addressing strategic interests while ensuring there were no flare-ups that could jeopardize relations. Concurrently, President Trump aimed to reaffirm his bond with Prime Minister Modi and secure trade concessions, particularly in light of his view on India's tariff policies.

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
App store bannerPlay store banner