Modi-Trump Meet Likely on Feb 13; Prez to Host Dinner

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet US President Donald Trump on February 13 in Washington DC, people familiar with the development said on Monday.

- Prashant Jha

Trump is also likely to host a dinner for Modi during the PM's visit, the people added.

Modi is expected to arrive in Washington DC on the evening of February 12 after wrapping up his visit to France, and will stay in the US capital till February 14. He is expected to have other engagements both with American corporate leaders and with the American-Indian community, said the person cited above who asked not to be named.

After their first call since he took office, Trump told reporters last week that Modi was likely to visit the White House in February. The Indian side has been keen on an early engagement between leaders, banking on the personal rapport between Modi and Trump to pave the way for both deeper collaboration and prevent potentially difficult issues from undermining the relationship.

In the readout of the call, the White House said that Trump emphasized to Modi the importance of India buying more made-in-US security equipment and moving towards a fair trade relationship. In the wake of Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico (which was put on hold for a month) and China, the conversation on trade has assumed even more salience.