Lagatar24 Desk
Washington DC: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a bilateral meeting at the White House, followed by a joint press conference where they discussed key global issues, including illegal immigration and human trafficking.
Modi’s Stand on Illegal Immigration: Only Verified Indian Citizens Will Be Taken Back
During the press conference, PM Modi clarified that India will only accept the return of illegal immigrants who are verified as Indian citizens. He emphasized that merely deporting undocumented individuals would not resolve the issue. Instead, he called for a comprehensive effort to dismantle the global human trafficking network that exploits vulnerable individuals.
Human Trafficking: A Global Issue, Not Just India’s Problem
Highlighting the dangers of human trafficking, Modi stated that traffickers lure impoverished individuals with false promises of a better future, pushing them towards illegal migration. “This is not just India’s problem; it is a global crisis,” he asserted.
He emphasized that individuals living in a foreign country without legal documentation do not have the right to stay and urged the international community to work collectively to eradicate human trafficking.
India-US Collaboration to Tackle Human Trafficking
PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment to taking back illegal immigrants if they are verified as Indian nationals. However, he stressed that this is not the ultimate solution. He called for greater intelligence-sharing and cooperation between India and the US to dismantle trafficking networks.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that Modi sought US collaboration in tracking and shutting down human trafficking rackets that operate across multiple countries.
Mission-500: Doubling Bilateral Trade to $500 Billion
A major outcome of the bilateral meeting was the launch of Mission-500, a trade and investment initiative aimed at doubling India-US bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. The initiative reflects the growing economic partnership between the two nations and their commitment to expanding trade opportunities.
Strategic and Defense Partnerships Strengthened
PM Modi’s visit also focused on strengthening strategic ties with the US. He met with Tulsie Gabbard, the newly appointed Director of US National Intelligence, as well as business leaders like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
The four-hour-long discussions at the White House covered a wide range of issues, including:
• Defense trade and military cooperation
• Energy security and technology partnerships
• Regional and global security concerns
• Strengthening people-to-people ties
Through this visit, Modi and Trump have reaffirmed their commitment to a strong India-US relationship, tackling global challenges while fostering economic and strategic cooperation.
