February 04, 2026

"Modi-Trump Share a Very..." White House on India-U.S. Deal as BJP vs Congress at Home

By: Lisa Curtis

In the wake of a high-octane year of tariff wars and diplomatic friction, a massive breakthrough has finally been reached: the India-US Trade Deal is officially here. But as the dust settles on the phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump, the world is asking—who actually walked away with the win? Join us as we decode the "father of all deals" that has slashed US tariffs on Indian goods from a staggering 50% down to 18%. We dive into the controversial trade-offs, including Trump’s claim that India has agreed to halt Russian oil imports and commit to a jaw-dropping $500 billion "Buy American" pledge. Did Modi’s strategic patience pay off, or did Trump’s "reciprocal tariff" pressure force a surrender? From the impact on Indian MSMEs and the sensitive agri-sector to the skepticism surrounding Trump’s "friendship-based" diplomacy, we analyze whether this deal is a sustainable "mega-partnership" or a temporary truce in a volatile era. CNAS program director Lisa Curtis discusses these issues with Barkha Dutt.

Watch the full interview on Mojo Story.

More from CNAS

View All Reports View All Articles & Multimedia