Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to meet the billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk today in the White House before his proposed bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. The gathering is the extension of an enduring association between the two individuals from their earlier interaction, such as a 2015 visit to Tesla’s San Jose factory, where Musk himself took Modi around the factory.
PM Modi and Elon Musk: A Strengthened Relationship
Today’s meeting is all the more important since it takes place in the wake of a dynamic political situation. In 2015, Musk supported the Democratic Party, but over time, has established himself as one of President Trump’s most staunch allies. Musk has emerged as one of Trump’s trusted advisers and appeared in a joint news conference with his son, Xa, in the Oval Office on Tuesday, showing the significant influence he wields in the current administration.
Although in the past, Musk has alluded to the possibility of launching a lower-cost version of Tesla’s all-electric car in India, it is not known if this topic will be included in the agenda of today’s discussion. Sources say that the spotlight may shift to Tesla’s potential to establish a manufacturing facility in India and the expansion of Musk’s Starlink satellite internet project in India.
AI Policy and Government Efficiency Likely on the Agenda
In contrast to previous one-on-one meetings with American business leaders on visits, PM Modi’s meeting with Musk will be in the form of one-on-one. The discussion will likely address key issues about technology, such as AI policy. Musk is infamous for his extreme views against government regulation and administration, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is aimed at dismantling the federal bureaucracy.
A U.S. government official shared that PM Modi’s conversation with Musk would likely cover not just Tesla and Starlink but also the broader implications of AI and its impact on India’s technological growth. The official stated that Musk’s international impact may be critical in the future of Manu policy in the US and India.
Strengthening India-U.S. Ties through Business Partnerships
PM Modi has always aimed to build strong relations with American business leaders on his travels, with a particular emphasis on attracting foreign direct investment into India. Such one-to-one sessions are representative of his continuing endeavors to build better economic ties between the two countries.
Since the rise of business cooperation between India and the U.S. through Musk’s growing impact, the present discussion is likely to give birth to scores of future business collaborations between India and the U.S.
