India Monitor (2/2025). Just like in January, India's foreign policy in February 2025 has particularly focused on intensifying its ties with the US, given that Donald Trump's administration has just commenced its tenure. In the days of February 12-13, Prime Minister Modi paid a visit to Washington where he met Donald Trump. According to the latter, one of the highlights of their conversations was an offer to sell the American F-35 fighter jets to India. However, according to the Indian MEA, the formal acquisition process has not even commenced yet (a bid has not yet been announced). Modi had also met Elon Musk with whom he discussed ways of raising government efficiency. Yet, despite these meetings, during the same month the US deported hundreds of illegal Indian immigrants back to their country of origin while Musk's department, DOGE, tweeted a false piece of information which has kicked up a political storm in India. Download the entire February compilation with commentary here.
India Monitor (1/2025). January was a particularly important time for India-US relations, given the swearing-in of the new President of the latter country: Donald Trump. The ceremony was attended by India's Minister of External Affairs. Earlier, Trump spoke on the phone with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and announced that Modi would visit the US in February. Even before Trump took office, the incumbent Biden administration announced it would ease its rules of cooperation with India in the field of civil nuclear energy. However, despite this energetic opening of a new chapter in US-India relations, these ties are also facing major challenges, such as the question of the status of H-1B work visas, and doubts about the possibility of Trump's administration imposing tariffs on India. Download the entire January compilation with commentary here.
