Mr. Modi and Mr. Trump have had a close personal relationship during Mr. Trump's previous term as US President. The old people are now back and their personal personalities have not changed, but the viewpoint of the ruling policy is not necessarily the same as before.
If Mr. Trump is steadfast in thoroughly and consistently implementing the decisions made in the first days of his term, India cannot avoid being affected and disadvantaged. Mr. Trump has announced the imposition of trade protection tariffs on countries exporting steel and aluminum to the US market, similar tariffs on goods from countries taxing US goods and threatened to impose trade protection tariffs on all goods of all countries exporting to the US market.
In the context of such a general situation, this US trip is especially important for Mr. Modi because it aims to avoid a trade conflict between the US and India, as well as help India avoid being plagued by trade conflicts between the US and other US partners. To achieve this goal, Mr. Modi's behavioral strategy is to find a way to recreate his old friendship with Mr. Trump. But to reclaim the old friendship, Mr. Modi now has to be really skillful in diplomacy.
The key to taking Mr. Trump for Mr. Modi is to promote his stature and build prestige for Mr. Trump. Therefore, Mr. Modi has proactively done things that Mr. Trump can only satisfy, such as immediately proposing to discuss with the US about removing the tariff problem, lowering some long-standing tariffs on US goods, promising that India will increase investment in the US, further promoting military, defense and security cooperation with the US, suggesting that India will import more US oil and gas, promote nuclear cooperation and be ready to purchase more US military equipment. This trip to the US by Mr. Modi could therefore only have good success and old friendship thanks to skillful invitation.
