Key takeaway from the Modi-Trump Summit
Trump’s response suggests the assassination issue will now move into the shadows and signals a potential shift towards greater accommodation of Indian demands to clamp down on Sikh activists.
The recent meeting between PM Modi and Donald Trump at the White House has raised pressing questions about the trajectory of U.S.-India relations, particularly regarding their impact on Sikh activists and India’s transnational repression, as well as the long-term strategic impacts on Sikh interests in the region. While the official Joint Leaders’ Statement clearly emphasizes deepening strategic and economic cooperation, Trump’s comments at the joint press conference also indicate an increased risk for Sikh activists.
When asked by an India Today reporter about India’s attempted assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. citizen, Trump sidestepped the issue, instead highlighting the extradition of Tahawwur Rana to India and suggesting that additional extraditions were forthcoming. His response signals a willingness to prioritize U.S.-India security cooperation, even at the cost of ignoring India’s violations of American sovereignty and international law through transnational repression.
The Joint Statement outlines a broad strategic alignment, including a new ten-year defense partnership, a bold push to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, and increasing energy trade—a key grievance the US has had against India for purchasing Russian oil in the past.
For Sikh activists, one of the key takeaways from this meeting is the absence of any public U.S. commitment to holding India accountable for its assassination plot against Pannun. While the Biden administration previously sanctioned an Indian official for the attempted killing, Trump’s response suggests this issue will now move into the shadows going forward and signals a potential shift towards greater accommodation of Indian demands, including extraditions of Sikh activists to India.
This meeting indicates that despite recent tensions—such as India’s deepening ties with Russia and BRICS—the U.S.-India relationship may be tilting further towards the US despite India’s attempts to maintain what they describe as “strategic autonomy.” For Sikh activists and other dissidents in the U.S., it raises serious questions about whether their rights will be compromised in the name of strategic partnership.
Moving forward, all political dissidents and critics of India must remain vigilant and monitor the shifting relationship and potential impacts on Sikh issues.
The US-India Joint Leaders’ Statement, is one of the most relevant documents that sheds some light on the potential direction of the relationship. We are publishing some of the key points from the leaders statement that point towards a shifting trajectory towards a stronger convergence between both administrations:
Highlighting the deepening convergence of U.S.-India strategic interests, the leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to a dynamic defense partnership spanning multiple domains. To advance defense ties further, the leaders announced plans to sign this year a new ten-year Framework for the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership in the 21st Century.
The leaders set a bold new goal for bilateral trade – “Mission 500” – aiming to more than double total bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.
Recognizing that this level of ambition would require new, fair-trade terms, the leaders announced plans to negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall of 2025.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to increase energy trade, as part of efforts to ensure energy security, and to establish the United States as a leading supplier of crude oil and petroleum products and liquified natural gas to India, in line with the growing needs and priorities of our dynamic economies.
The leaders resolved to increase cooperation, enhance diplomatic consultations, and increase tangible collaboration with partners in the Middle East. They highlighted the importance of investing in critical infrastructure and economic corridors to advancing peace and security in the region. The leaders plan to convene partners from the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor and the I2U2 Group within the next six months in order to announce new initiatives in 2025.
The leaders reaffirmed that the global scourge of terrorism must be fought, and terrorist safe havens eliminated from every corner of the world... Recognizing a shared desire to bring to justice those who would harm our citizens, the U.S. announced that the extradition to India of Tahawwur Rana has been approved. The leaders further called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, and Pathankot attacks and ensure that its territory is not used to carry out cross-border terrorist attacks.
The leaders also committed to strengthen law enforcement cooperation to take decisive action against illegal immigration networks, organized crime syndicates, including narco-terrorists human and arms traffickers, as well as other elements who threaten public and diplomatic safety and security, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both nations.
President Trump and Prime Minister Modi pledged to sustain high-level engagement between our governments, industries, and academic institutions and realize their ambitious vision for an enduring India-U.S. partnership that advances the aspirations of our people for a bright and prosperous future, serves the global good, and contributes to a free and open Indo-Pacific.