Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has met with US National Security Advisor, Michael Waltz.
They discussed defence, technology and security areas, which are important aspects of the India-US ties.
Modi said in a post on X, “Had a fruitful meeting with NSA @michaelgwaltz,” adding that Waltz has always been a “great friend of India.”
“Defence, technology and security are important aspects of India-USA ties and we had a wonderful discussion around these issues. There is strong potential for cooperation in sectors like AI, semiconductors, space and more.”
Narendra Modi
Modi arrived in the US capital on Wednesday evening for a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump.
The meeting with Waltz was the first engagement of today.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were present at the meeting.
The Ministry of External Affairs in a press release said that the discussions touched upon ways to further deepen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, with a focus on strategic technologies, as well as defence industrial cooperation and civil nuclear energy with an emphasis on small modular reactors and counterterrorism.
The press release added that they also discussed international and regional issues of mutual interest.
After his meeting with Waltz, Modi met SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Musk arrived at Blair House with his three young kids.
Modi wrote on X, “Had a very good meeting with @elonmusk in Washington DC.”
“We discussed various issues, including those he is passionate about such as space, mobility, technology and innovation. I talked about India’s efforts towards reform and furthering ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’.”
Narendra Modi
Modi and Musk have met several times before, starting with a 2015 visit by the Indian leader to the San Jose facility of Tesla where the owner gave him a personal guided tour.
Musk has toyed with the idea of developing a more affordable version of Tesla for the India market but there has not been much movement on it yet.
After arriving at Blair House, the President’s Guest House, Modi met US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. “Congratulated her on her confirmation. Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she’s always been a strong votary,” Modi said on X.
They discussed enhancing intelligence cooperation, particularly in counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, emerging threats, and strategic intelligence sharing.
Just hours before her meeting with Modi, Gabbard took the oath of office as the 8th Director of National Intelligence in the presence of Trump.
India Likely To Prove Critical To Trump
India may prove critical to Trump’s strategy to thwart China, which many in his administration see as the top U.S. rival. India is wary of neighboring China’s military buildup and competes for many of the same markets.
According to Mukesh Aghi, President of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum lobbying group, Modi also worries that Trump could cut a deal with China that excludes India.
Lisa Curtis, an India-focused former White House official during the first Trump administration now with the Center for a New American Security think tank, “Even though much of the talk will be on the bilateral relationship, on trade, on immigration, defense purchases, the China thread will weave through the meeting.”
Still, India tries to avoid direct confrontation with Beijing and maintains a foreign policy of “strategic ambiguity” to avoid picking sides in major international conflicts.
That approach has also meant that India has continued its ties with Moscow as it carries out its war with Ukraine. India has remained a major consumer of Russian energy, for instance, while the West has worked to cut its own consumption since the war started.
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