PM Modi and Trump to Meet Soon as US Official Confirms Positive Relations and Upcoming Quad Summit

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.

A senior State Department official has indicated that US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who share a "very, very positive" relationship, will meet in the near future. The official also mentioned that planning is currently underway for the next Quad Summit, which is expected to take place either later this year or in early 2026.

India is scheduled to host the Quad Summit, bringing together leaders from the United States, Australia, and Japan. The previous summit was held in 2024 in Wilmington, Delaware.

"In terms of upcoming meetings, I certainly don't want to preempt any announcements for the President, but I'm sure you'll see the two leaders meet," the State Department official told PTI. "They have a very, very positive relationship. We're working on planning a Quad Summit, which will happen either later this year or early next year. We're still finalizing the dates."

The official characterized ongoing US-India engagements as "incredibly productive" and predicted "continuous positive developments" in the coming months.

"We do have differences. It's been evident over recent weeks that we're working through some issues, particularly regarding trade and Russian oil purchases. But we're making progress on these matters," the official stated.

The official referenced Trump's recent phone call to Modi on his 75th birthday, describing the conversation as "incredibly positive."

On diplomatic appointments, the official noted that US Ambassador nominee to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor, who is among President Trump's closest confidants, will be confirmed soon as the US representative in New Delhi.

"This appointment demonstrates the importance the President places on the US-India relationship," the official emphasized.

The official also highlighted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's first meeting on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly was with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

This hour-long meeting on Monday was described as "incredibly productive," covering a wide range of issues including trade, defense, and technology cooperation.

While acknowledging some "turbulence" in bilateral relations, the official noted that President Trump is known for his candid communication style and is "not shy when he is frustrated with countries," which provides clarity about US positions.

"We're frank with our friends, and we view India as both a good friend and a partner for the future," the official said.

Regarding India's continued purchase of Russian oil, the official confirmed that this issue was raised during the Rubio-Jaishankar meeting earlier this week.

"This matter was absolutely discussed, as it is in every engagement we have. The President has been incredibly clear that he wants to end the war in Ukraine and doesn't want revenue flowing to Russia. He's communicated this clearly to our European partners and to India. We raise this at every opportunity that we wish to cut off this revenue stream for President Putin," the official stated.

When questioned about whether the US applies similar pressure on China, the official asserted that the Trump administration addresses Beijing "on its own terms, and they are receiving many of the same messages."

The official emphasized that India is not being singled out, as the Trump administration is applying similar pressure elsewhere, including on the European Union.

Reference was made to a bipartisan bill in Congress, co-sponsored by 85 Senators, proposing 500% tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil. The official noted that the current 25% tariff imposed by Washington "doesn't look so bad" by comparison.

"We continue to pressure countries to stop providing revenue to Russia through energy purchases," the official added.

The Trump administration has imposed an additional 25% tariff on India as a penalty for its Russian oil purchases, bringing total US levies on the country to 50%, among the highest worldwide.

Despite these tensions, the official affirmed that the US "absolutely" still considers India a "critical partner" in the Indo-Pacific region.

The official also confirmed that the US is revoking exceptions under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act related to Afghanistan reconstruction, including those involving India's use of Iran's Chabahar Port.

"This President has returned to a maximum pressure campaign on Iran, which includes revoking licenses for all countries, not just India, to access Chabahar port. Any revenue that would go to the IRGC will now be targeted for sanctions, and Chabahar port falls under that policy," the official explained.

Regarding the recently announced $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applicants, the official mentioned that the US has been in "close communication" with India on this issue.

"We were very clear with them that this fee applies only to new applicants, not current H1B holders. We haven't received major pushback or concerns. Part of this policy aims to address fraud in the process. Companies wanting to bring in highly skilled workers can continue to do so as long as they pay the fee," the official stated.

The official referenced US Vice President JD Vance's earlier visit to India, during which he described India-US ties as "one of the most important relationships that will define the 21st century."

"This is the belief of this administration, and we continue to work through issues in the relationship," the official said.

The official recalled that the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in January was Secretary Rubio's first engagement after taking office, followed by bilateral meetings with Jaishankar and Prime Minister Modi's visit to the White House in February.

"When you look beyond this brief moment at the overall relationship, it is really on a positive trajectory and continues to expand," the official concluded.