India and the United States have set an ambitious target to elevate bilateral trade to $500 billion by the year 2030, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced following his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington DC. The commitment to this significant economic milestone came as Trump promised to secure “wonderful trade deals” for India, indicating a renewed focus on strengthening economic cooperation between the two nations.
Speaking during a joint statement after their bilateral discussions, Trump said that both leaders had agreed to initiate talks aimed at addressing trade imbalances and expanding economic collaboration. The US President further revealed plans for a transformative trade corridor that would link India with Israel, Italy, and eventually the United States, enhancing global connectivity through an integrated network of roads, railways, and undersea cables. “We have agreed to work together to establish one of the greatest trade corridors in history,” Trump declared.
Energy cooperation emerged as another cornerstone of the bilateral discussions. Trump announced that the United States would position itself as a primary supplier of oil and natural gas to India. “We hope to become India’s top supplier of energy resources,” he noted. Additionally, Trump disclosed a landmark development in the nuclear sector, with India undertaking legal reforms to ease the entry of advanced US nuclear technology into its market. “This will bring the best of American nuclear innovation to India,” Trump added.
Defense partnerships also featured prominently in the talks. Trump confirmed that the US would boost military sales to India by billions of dollars and laid the groundwork for the future delivery of cutting-edge F-35 stealth fighter jets. “This marks a new era in our defense cooperation,” Trump said.
Earlier in the day, both leaders addressed the media ahead of their meeting in the Oval Office. Trump emphasized the growing economic synergy between the two nations, stating, “India will be purchasing a substantial amount of our oil and gas. We are looking forward to finalizing trade agreements that will benefit both India and the US.”
Prime Minister Modi echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of deepening trade and defense ties with the US. “Together, we will build a future of prosperity for our nations,” Modi said, underscoring the strategic partnership between the world’s largest and oldest democracies.