US President Donald Trump offered to sell state-of-the-art fighter jets to India as he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to ramp up trade, rekindling a bond that defies the new US administration’s punitive approach to much of the world.Modi, only the fourth world leader to visit the White House since Trump’s return, described the fellow nationalist as a friend and told him he was adopting a take on his “Make America Great Again” slogan. Trump said that he found a “special bond” with Modi and India and, in an uncharacteristic if ironic show of humility, complimented Modi as being a “much tougher negotiator” than he is.Successive US administrations have seen India as a key partner with like-minded interests in the face of a rising China, and Trump announced that the new administration was ready to sell one of the top US military prizes – F-35s.“Starting this year, we’ll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars,” Trump told a joint news conference with Modi.“We’re also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters,” Trump said. India would join an elite club of countries that include Nato allies, Israel and Japan that would be allowed to buy the F-35, which can operate without detection at supersonic speeds.India’s arch rival and neighbour, Pakistan, however said it was “deeply concerned” about the sales. “Such steps accentuate military imbalances in the region and undermine strategic stability. They remain unhelpful in achieving the objectives of durable peace in the region,” said Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs.Continuing a push from his predecessor Joe Biden, Trump said that the two countries also planned investment in ports, railways and underseas cable to “build one of the greatest trade routes in all of history”, running from India to Israel to Europe and beyond. Trump has duelled with both friends and foes on economic issues. Hours before meeting, Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on all countries, including India.Speaking next to Modi, Trump called India’s “unfair, very strong tariffs” a “big problem” but said that the two countries would hold negotiations to close a trade deficit in India’s favour.Joining Trump’s meeting with Modi was SpaceX and Tesla tycoon Elon Musk, who has launched an aggressive effort as Trump’s right-hand man to overhaul the US bureaucracy.Modi also met with Musk, raising questions over whether the world’s richest man was meeting the Indian leader in an official or business capacity. The Indian premier posted pictures of himself shaking hands with the beaming Musk, with several children on Musk’s side of the room. Modi offered quick tariff concessions ahead of his visit, with New Delhi slashing duties on high-end motorcycles – a boost to Harley-Davidson, the iconic US manufacturer whose struggles in India have irked Trump.Trump, Modi avoid discussing minority rights in meetingUS President Donald Trump and India’s Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed issues ranging from weapons sales to trade when they met in Washington but in public remarks avoided the sensitive subjects of human rights and minority abuses.Concerns over India’s human rights track record have taken a bipartisan backseat in Washington in recent years as India gained clout by boosting its US trade and emerging as a partner in countering China, experts say, noting Trump’s second presidency will continue that trend.The leaders’ formal remarks as they met at the White House and then spoke at a joint press conference made no mention of rights issues, and neither did their online statements.“Trump is unlikely to take a position on rights issues in India. And that’s largely because his foreign policy is staunchly interests-based, affording little space for values-based considerations such as human rights abroad,” said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center think-tank.While former President Joe Biden also maintained strong India ties, his top diplomat Antony Blinken occasionally condemned minority abuses.State Department reports on human rights and religious freedom have noted abuses in India in recent years. New Delhi calls them “deeply biased”. Chietigj Bajpaee, senior research fellow at the Chatham House think-tank, called Modi and Trump “strongman” leaders with shared perceptions. Kugelman said their similarities, including on their approach to human rights, strengthen their chemistry.
