Subhechcha Ganguly 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held productive talks at the White House on Thursday, discussing key measures to enhance bilateral relations. Modi expressed India’s goal to double trade with the US by 2030, calling the meeting “excellent” and a major boost to ties.
The discussions came shortly after Trump criticized India’s business environment and outlined plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries levying duties on US imports. Trump also highlighted India’s increased defense cooperation with the US, including plans to buy more US fighter jets, and hinted at the possibility of India making the US its primary supplier of oil and gas.
In a significant development, Trump confirmed the US approval for the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a key figure in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, to India. Rana, currently in custody in Los Angeles, is closely connected to David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators behind the attacks. Trump described Rana as “very evil” and emphasized the importance of his trial in India.
The leaders also agreed to expand strategic cooperation across critical sectors. Trump announced that the US would provide India with F-35 stealth fighter jets, a move aimed at deepening defense ties. Additionally, military sales to India are set to increase by billions of dollars starting this year, reinforcing the growing security partnership between the two nations.
