Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a grand welcome members of the Indian community in the US upon his arrival in Washington for a two-day visit.
During his visit, the Prime Minister will be staying at Blair House, the official guest residence for dignitaries visiting the White House.
Blair House has a rich history of hosting presidents, royalty, and global leaders.
Despite the freezing weather, members of the Indian community gathered outside Blair House to welcome PM Modi and celebrate his arrival.
As he arrived, the crowd chanted slogans such as ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai,’ ‘Vande Mataram,’ and ‘Modi Modi,’ and waved the flags of India and the United States.
Expressing his appreciation for the warm welcome, PM Modi tweeted, “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.”
This marks PM Modi’s first trip to the US since Donald Trump assumed office for a second term as President.
During this visit, PM Modi will be among the first four world leaders to meet Trump in his second term, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japan’s Shigeru Ishiba, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
On Thursday, PM Modi is scheduled to engage in bilateral talks withTrump. The discussions will cover a range of key issues, including trade, energy, defence, security, technological advancement, and strategic cooperation.
Shortly after arriving in Washington, PM Modi met with Tulsi Gabbard, the newly appointed US Director of National Intelligence, just hours after the Senate confirmed her appointment.
Additionally, it is anticipated that the Prime Minister is likely to meet Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who also leads Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
According to Reuters, their conversation may include discussions about Starlink’s potential entry into the Indian market.
Before travelling to the US, PM Modi wrapped up a three-day visit to France, where he participated in the International AI Action Summit, attended the 14th India-France CEO Forum, and held discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron.