Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Donald Trump at White House in Washington on Thursday. The two leaders held bilateral talks covering a range of important issues. During their discussions, President Trump addressed questions about the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh and India’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war.
President Trump said that the crisis in Bangladesh would be addressed by PM Modi. He made it clear that US would not intervene in the matter, saying, “PM Modi will decide on Bangladesh.” During the press conference, Trump rejected any role for the US in the crisis, reinforcing that it is up to India to lead efforts toward a resolution.
What led to Bangladesh crisis?
The crisis in Bangladesh began last year with a student movement that escalated into a violent coup. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted and fled to India. Since then, Bangladesh has faced severe law and order challenges, including attacks on minorities, including Hindus, and widespread violence.
Bangladeshi government has been pressuring India for Sheikh Hasina’s extradition, claiming she is responsible for human rights violations. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, General Secretary of the Nationalist Party (BNP), said, “We call on the Indian government to immediately bring Sheikh Hasina and her companions back to Bangladesh and hand them over to the government for trial.”
India’s stand on Russia-Ukraine war
At the press conference, Russia-Ukraine war was another topic of discussion. President Trump is currently playing an active role in trying to mediate the conflict. When asked about India’s role, PM Modi expressed support for Trump’s peace efforts. He said, “We support Trump’s initiative to end this war.”
PM Modi clarified India’s position during the war, saying, “The world feels that India was neutral during the war, but I want to tell you all that India was not neutral; rather, India was in favor of peace.”
He recounted his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, “When I met President Putin, I even said that ‘this is not the era of war.’ I also said that solutions cannot be found on the battlefield; they can only be found through dialogue.”
Bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Trump
PM Modi and President Trump held their discussions in Oval Office, focusing on strengthening India-US relations. They talked about key topics like trade relations, defense cooperation, and the issue of illegal immigrants. President Trump called PM Modi “his friend” and congratulated him for his leadership.
During their four-hour meeting, both leaders discussed strategic ties, economic engagement, and global issues. Vikram Misri, Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, described the visit as “very substantive and productive.”
What expert said
In the Trump-Modi press conference, when asked about Bangladesh, Trump said, “I’ll leave Bangladesh to the prime minister.” Michael Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute, highlighted this response, calling it a clear deference to PM Modi’s leadership on the issue.
In a post on X, he said, “In the Trump-Modi presser, Trump was asked for his view on Bangladesh, and interestingly he demurred, saying “I’ll leave Bangladesh to the prime minister.”
In the Trump-Modi presser, Trump was asked for his view on Bangladesh, and interestingly he demurred, saying “I’ll leave Bangladesh to the prime minister.”
— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) February 13, 2025
