During his stay, PM Modi will be hosted at Blair House, the official presidential guest house, which has a rich history of hosting world leaders.

India is acutely aware that trade and immigration issues are a potential double whammy. But it believes it can preserve growing ties.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s longstanding bonhomie with President Donald Trump may be tested as the Indian leader kicks off a visit to Washington, eager to avoid tariffs that have been slapped on others and threats of further taxes and imports.

The two share similar views and Trump is popular among Indians. But India is not yet equipped to be the bulwark against China that the US wants it to be.

Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House this week feels suspiciously like a victory lap for an Indian leader whose economy hasn’t had a great deal to celebrate of late.

A major agenda on the Modi-Trump summit is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The multi-national infrastructure initiative proposes a 4,500-kilometre trade route connecting India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Europe.