Watch: P.M. Modi in U.S. | Is Trump or Harris better for India?

A look ahead to PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the US and with the US elections nearing, we analyse if Donald Trump or Kamala Harris is better for India-US ties

The timing of PM Modi’s visit to the UN makes it even more interesting - this is the 4th time Mr Modi has travelled to UN during what’s called High Level Week – after 2014, 2019 and 2021., although he will not address the UN General Assembly this year.

Here’s what’s on the agenda:

1. Quad Summit with US President Biden, Japan PM Kishida and Australian PM Albanese. The Quad is expected to be a warm send-off for 2 leaders who are retiring soon- Biden and Kishida. PM is meeting them in Wilmington Delaware before he heads to New York. What to Watch for: Modi’s statement on India’s role in Russia-Ukraine peacemaking, Quad joint Statement on China, and on any kind of military or maritime partnership involving the navies.

2. UN Summit of the Future: SoTF is an important initiative by the UN Secretary General to consider where the world body needs to improve, reforms and other issues: A Pact of the Future will be signed. What to Watch for: Which other leaders Modi meets on the sidelines– incl Bangladesh, Ukraine, Israel will be important. Also, a meeting of the G4 Brazil, Germany, India, Japan grouping will be significant on UNSC expansion that they have all a joint proposal on.

3. Diaspora event: PM Modi is back to do a massive diaspora event in a stadium for the first time since 2019 and the Howdy Modi event in Texas. This time it is an event called “Modi and US: Progress together”- a slightly personalized title- but meant to be a rally for the diaspora- with around 16,000 expected in the audience at the Nassau Colliseum in New York. What to watch for: Will there be political messaging of the kind we saw in Texas with Abki Baar…? Also will there also be protests of the kind he faced in 2019 and 2021 by other members of the diaspora?

There is also the case about an alleged India intelligence plot against diaspora Khalistani leader Pannun- the DoJ trial is underway and a New York court has issued summons in a civil case against NSA Doval, who will accompany Modi to the US, as well as 3 others.

4. Meetings with Business leaders: According to the MEA schedule- Modi will focus on meetings CEOs of companies at the cutting edge of Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology also . What to Watch: Which business leaders will Modi meet – all eyes will be on Tesla, X and Starlink owner Elon Musk?