Just before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the United States, a surprising and distressing issue arose. A US military plane arrived in Punjab, carrying about 100 Indian migrants who had been deported after an exhausting 40 hour journey in shackles. This marked the beginning of a series of deportations with more than 330 Indian nationals returned to India in just two weeks, stirring strong reactions.

This situation must have been especially awkward for Modi, who had built a close relationship with President Trump. Both leaders had publicly celebrated their friendship and their joint appearances had showcased their strong bond. However the deportation of Indian citizens by the Trump administration added tension to this partnership and leaving Modi in an uncomfortable position right before their critical meeting

Trade Tensions Rise as Modi Prepares for His US Visit
 

Alongside the deportation issue, trade tensions between India and the US were escalating. The Trump administration had voiced growing concerns about the large trade deficit between the two nations which had reached $45.6 billion in India’s favor. Trump had expressed frustration with this imbalance emphasizing his administration’s focus on reducing global trade deficits.

Just hours before Modi’s meeting with Trump, the US president announced plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries that had high tariffs on American products. This added another layer of complexity to Modi’s already difficult situation as India faced the potential of increased trade restrictions while Modi worked to manage the relationship with the US.

Modi’s Dilemma: Balancing Diplomacy and Economic Pressures

Trump’s demands that India purchase more US products such as oil, gas and defense equipment put Modi in an even more challenging position. These requests were part of a broader strategy to balance trade relations. Modi who had carefully cultivated a strong personal relationship with Trump now found himself trying to juggle these tough demands while also responding to the fallout from the deportations.

With mounting pressure from both the US on trade and from within India over the deportation issue, Modi’s relationship with Trump seemed to be on shaky ground. As the two leaders prepared for their meeting it was clear that the challenges surrounding their partnership had grown significantly leaving Modi with delicate decisions to make on the international stage.