Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to the United States in December to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit in Florida, where US President Donald Trump will host the gathering of world leaders, according to people familiar with the preparations.
If PM Modi travels to Florida, he is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, which will take place from December 14 to 15 at the Trump National Doral Miami resort.
The government is yet to make a formal announcement on the visit, as it usually happens closer to the date.
The possibility of such a Modi-Trump meeting comes amid ongoing India-US engagement on trade and other areas of bilateral cooperation, and assumes added significance against the backdrop of the 100 per cent tariff threat on Indian imports over New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, speaking to media, recently indicated that PM Modi would be among Trump's priority leaders to meet during the summit and suggested that the Indian Prime Minister's visit could involve more than participation in the G20 meeting
PM Modi and Trump last met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France's Evian in June. The two leaders reviewed developments in India-US cooperation, including trade, defence, energy and technology, and discussed negotiations for an interim bilateral trade agreement.
The India-US relationship has seen sustained high-level engagement in recent months, with trade, defence, technology, critical minerals and energy emerging as key areas of cooperation. The two countries have also been working towards a broader bilateral trade agreement. US officials have said bilateral trade is currently around USD 240 billion, with the two sides having set an ambition of taking it to USD 500 billion over the coming years.
Preparations are also underway for a possible Quad leaders' summit on the sidelines of the G20 meeting, bringing together India, the US, Japan and Australia. The meeting comes amid renewed efforts to strengthen the Quad's cooperation on areas including artificial intelligence, critical minerals, emerging technologies and disaster relief.
Following his possible visit to Florida, Modi is also likely to undertake a bilateral visit to Canada, according to diplomatic sources.
A meeting between PM Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is also anticipated around the December G20 summit, Reuters reported, citing Canada's trade minister. India and Canada are currently engaged in negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Source: India Today