On Monday Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-nation visit to France and the US started. Additionally, it’s a collaborative approach to the inclusive use of AI and strengthening the India-US partnership in key areas such as technology, trade, defence and energy. PM Modi will first travel to France, where he will co-chair the AI Action Summit along with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.
The two leaders will hold the bilateral talks before PM Modi travels to Washington on February 12 for his first meeting with US President Donald Trump in his second term. In a statement ahead of his departure, Modi said he looked forward to co-chairing the AI Action Summit, where we will exchange views on collaborative approach to AI technology for innovation and larger public good in an inclusive, secure and trustworthy manner.
In Washington DC, I look forward to meeting @POTUS @realDonaldTrump. This visit will further cement India-USA friendship and boost ties in diverse sectors. I warmly recall working with President Trump during his first term and I am sure our talks will build on the ground covered…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 10, 2025
The summit in Paris will be attended by the world leaders and global tech CEOs. Besides the launch of an AI Foundation, the summit is expected to focus on collaboration to ensure the safe and trustworthy use of AI Following the AI Summit, Modi and Macron will travel to the port city of Marseille, where they will hold bilateral talks and inaugurate a new Indian consulate on February 12.
Modi said the bilateral segment of his visit to France will be a chance to review progress on the 2047 Horizon Roadmap for the India-France strategic partnership along with Macron. PM Modi said, “We will also travel to the historic French city of Marseille to inaugurate the first Indian consulate in France and also visit the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project, in which India is a member of the consortium of partner countries including France, to harness energy for the global good”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also pay tribute to Indian soldiers who died during World Wars 1 and 2 at the Mazargues War Cemetery. PM Modi will travel to the US at the invitation of Trump from France. PM Modi said, “I look forward to meeting my friend, President Trump. Although this will be our first meeting following his historic electoral victory and inauguration in January, I have a very warm recollection of working together in his first term in building a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between India and the US”.
The visit will be an “opportunity to build upon the successes of our collaboration in his first term and develop an agenda to further elevate and deepen our partnership, including in the areas of technology, trade, defence, energy, and supply chain resilience”, Modi said. He said, “We will work together for the mutual benefit of the people of our two countries and shape a better future for the world”.
Modi’s visit to the US will come a week following an American military flight brought back 104 illegal migrants to Amritsar. Images of the deportees in handcuffs and shackles triggered a nationwide outcry and the Indian side is expected to bring up this issue in Washington. Trade, investment and energy procurement are expected to figure in the talks between Modi and Trump, who has asked India to buy more US-made defence hardware and move towards a fair bilateral trading relationship during a recent phone call between the two leaders.
According to the media reports, India could ease tariffs on more US goods and procure more oil and gas from the US, which is presently fifth on the list of energy suppliers to the country. During Trump’s first term, PM Modi visited the US in 2017 and 2019, and he was one of the first world leaders to call Trump and congratulate him after his election victory in 2024. Following Trump’s inauguration, Modi called him again to wish him and the two leaders agreed to meet soon during this conversation. India was represented at Trump’s inauguration by external affairs minister S Jaishankar.
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