Members of the Indian diaspora gathered outside Blair House in Washington, D.C., to warmly welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi despite the cold weather. Chants of “Modi, Modi” echoed as they waved Indian and American flags and held posters reading “America welcomes Narendra Modi.”
PM Modi, who arrived in Washington on Wednesday for an official visit, took a moment to interact with the crowd, expressing his gratitude. “A warm reception in the winter chill! Despite the cold weather, the Indian diaspora in Washington DC has welcomed me with a very special welcome. My gratitude to them,” he wrote on social media platform X.
During his two-day visit, PM Modi will meet US President Donald Trump, members of the US Cabinet, and industry leaders to strengthen bilateral ties. Key areas of discussion will include technology, defence, trade, and energy. This visit marks a new chapter in the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between India and the US.
PM Modi will be staying at Blair House, the historic guest residence for visiting dignitaries. Known as “the world’s most exclusive hotel,” Blair House has hosted presidents, royalty, and global leaders, symbolizing American hospitality and diplomacy.
In his departure statement, PM Modi highlighted his strong working relationship with President Trump. “Although this will be our first meeting following his historic electoral victory and inauguration in January, I have a very warm recollection of working together in his first term in building a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” he stated.
He further emphasized that the visit aims to build on past successes and deepen cooperation in technology, trade, defence, energy, and supply chain resilience. “We will work together for the mutual benefit of our two countries and shape a better future for the world,” he added.
Since November 2024, PM Modi and Trump have spoken twice over the phone. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended Trump’s inauguration ceremony and later met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also participating in the QUAD Foreign Ministers’ meeting in January 2025.
India and the US established a strategic partnership in 2005, which was elevated to a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership during Trump’s visit to India in February 2020. The Indo-Pacific region has remained a key focus of US foreign policy since then.
Before arriving in Washington, PM Modi concluded a three-day visit to France. While there, he met US Vice President JD Vance to discuss energy diversification, with the US offering investments in clean and reliable nuclear technology, according to an official White House statement.
