1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a brief but significant visit to Washington, becoming the fourth world leader to hold bilateral meetings with newly sworn-in U.S. President Donald Trump, following the leaders of Israel, Japan, and Jordan.
2. Both nations launched 'Mission 500' targeting $500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 and initiated discussions on a free trade agreement, with the first phase of the draft expected within 2024.
3. The U.S. announced increased Indian purchases of American energy, oil, and defence equipment to help balance the $45.7 billion U.S. trade deficit within the total $130 billion goods trade.
4. A new umbrella framework called COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology for the 21st Century) was established to streamline cooperation across key sectors.
5. The Biden-era Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) was rebranded as TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology), focusing on semiconductors, quantum computing, and AI, with plans to develop an AI infrastructure road map in 2024.
6. President Trump approved the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, who was involved in the 26/11 attacks, to India for trial.
7. The visit demonstrated continuity in key strategic partnership areas, including Indo-Pacific engagement and the Quad, with Trump planning to visit Delhi for the Quad Summit later in 2024.
8. The relationship shows signs of taking a transactional turn with focus on economic discussions, trade, energy, nuclear cooperation, and defence, similar to Trump's first tenure.
9. Challenges remain regarding Trump's stance on imposing counter-tariffs, reciprocal taxes, and the deportation of undocumented immigrants aboard military flights, which could pose difficulties for the Indian government.
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