Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strategic handling of trade negotiations with US President Donald Trump has been praised as a ‘masterclass’ by CNN, with the two leaders securing key agreements despite rising tariff tensions.
What could have been a diplomatic setback for India turned into a successful meeting that yielded significant outcomes in trade, energy, and defense.
Senior international correspondent, Will Ripley, highlighted PM Modi’s adeptness at navigating President Trump’s unpredictable diplomatic style.
Ripley described the meeting as a ‘masterclass’, emphasizing PM Modi’s ability to approach negotiations in a way that secured favorable results.
“This is a masterclass… to know how they should walk into a negotiation with President Trump to achieve the best possible outcome,” Ripley said.
PM Modi, aware of the pressure from Trump’s tariff policies, shifted the narrative skillfully, turning a potential diplomatic setback into a productive conversation.
He secured critical commitments from Trump, including increased US investments in India’s nuclear energy sector, progress on defense acquisitions like the potential purchase of F-35 fighter jets, and assurances that India would work on reducing tariffs on American goods.
Additionally, PM Modi agreed to the repatriation of undocumented Indian nationals, further easing tensions between the two nations.
One of the highlights of the meeting was PM Modi’s clever branding maneuver, which won the approval of President Trump. PM Modi invoked Trump’s well-known slogan with a twist, saying, “MAGA plus MIGA equals MEGA—A mega partnership for prosperity.”
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CNN noted that this branding move was precisely the kind of messaging that resonated with Trump. “Clearly, they might have had a PR team to think that up. And that’s exactly the kind of clever branding that President Trump certainly loves to hear,” Ripley observed.
This creative approach helped PM Modi frame the talks in a way that appealed to Trump’s preference for catchy, memorable slogans and further solidified the positive tone of the meeting.
Despite Trump’s sharp criticism of India’s high tariffs, including a 70% tax on US cars and previous tariffs on luxury vehicles, the two leaders presented their discussions as a resounding success. Trump confirmed that India would be ‘purchasing a lot of our oil and gas’, while PM Modi secured commitments to smoother trade relations moving forward.
CNN concluded that PM Modi had ‘understood the assignment’, as he turned what could have been a diplomatic setback into a clear victory. The outcome not only strengthened the US-India partnership but also left India with tangible gains in trade, energy, and defense—demonstrating PM Modi’s skill in turning challenges into opportunities.
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