“During the visit, EAM will also have meetings with representatives of the incoming Administration, as also some other dignitaries visiting the US on that occasion,” the ministry said.
As Trump prepares to take office for a second term, former US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster last month told CNBC-TV18 that he was optimistic about the enduring strength of the India-US relationship. He emphasised that the partnership, built over the past 25 years, is now a cornerstone of both nations’ foreign policy agendas.
“The India-US relationship is very strong. Like any two countries, there will be issues that arise from time to time,” he noted. He lauded the breadth of cooperation, which spans defence, trade, energy, technology, education, and counterterrorism.
However, the former envoy acknowledged that trade and tariffs could pose an immediate challenge under Trump’s renewed leadership. Trump’s administration has been vocal about addressing what it perceives as imbalances in trade with India, particularly India’s high tariffs and the trade deficit. Juster indicated that these issues, a priority during Trump’s first term, will likely dominate the agenda in the early days of the second term.
Juster, however, expressed confidence in the ability of the Trump 2.0 team to build on the existing foundation, noting the strong pro-India orientation of key figures like Senator Marco Rubio and Representative Michael Waltz, who were nominated for Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, respectively.
Meanwhile, months before the elections in the world’s oldest democracy, the electorate in the world’s largest democracy voted for Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a historic third term.
Modi congratulated his “friend” Trump – the oldest person in US history to be elected president – on his “historic” victory and said he looks forward to renewing their collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.
His relations with both President Biden and Trump have been strong. Between June 2023 and September 2024, both Modi and Biden hosted each other in their countries, visits that underscored the strong trajectory of bilateral relations.
