Modi and Trump launch U.S.-India COMPACT, set 'Mission 500' trade goal in Washington
PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump met in Washington, DC, on 13 February 2025 and launched the U.S.-India COMPACT, a 'Mission 500' trade goal and the TRUST technology initiative.
Summary
President Donald Trump hosted PM Narendra Modi for an official working visit in Washington, DC, on 13 February 2025. The two launched the 'U.S.-India COMPACT for the 21st Century' and set 'Mission 500', a goal of more than doubling bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, with the first tranche of a Bilateral Trade Agreement to be negotiated by fall 2025. On defence, they announced plans to sign a new ten-year Framework for the Major Defense Partnership, to pursue procurement and co-production of Javelin missiles and Stryker vehicles in India, and to launch the Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA). They also launched the TRUST initiative (Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology), INDUS Innovation and the Strategic Mineral Recovery initiative. The joint statement was released on 14 February (IST).
Key facts
- Date and place
- 13 February 2025, Washington, DC
- Trade goal
- 'Mission 500': $500 billion by 2030
- Trade deal
- First tranche of a Bilateral Trade Agreement by fall 2025
- Defence
- New 10-year Major Defense Partnership framework; Javelin, Stryker; ASIA alliance
- Technology
- TRUST initiative; INDUS Innovation; Strategic Mineral Recovery initiative
- Exercise
- Tiger Triumph tri-service exercise (since 2019), to be hosted in India
Practice MCQs 5 questions
Under 'Mission 500', announced by PM Modi and President Trump on 13 February 2025, India–US bilateral trade is to reach $500 billion by which year?
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Correct answer: A — 2030
The leaders set 'Mission 500', aiming to more than double total bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.
In the India–US 'TRUST' initiative launched on 13 February 2025, what does TRUST stand for?
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Correct answer: A — Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology
TRUST stands for 'Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology', covering defence, AI, semiconductors, quantum, biotechnology, energy and space.
The India–US Joint Statement of February 2025 said the first tranche of which agreement would be negotiated by fall 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Bilateral Trade Agreement
The leaders announced plans to negotiate the first tranche of a multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement by fall 2025; for defence, they only called for opening Reciprocal Defense Procurement talks.
Which new initiative did India and the US announce on 13 February 2025 to scale industry partnerships and production of autonomous systems in the Indo-Pacific?
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Correct answer: B — Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA)
The leaders announced the Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA), building on the US-India Roadmap for Defense Industrial Cooperation.
Consider the following statements about the India–US Joint Statement of February 2025: 1. It announced plans for procurement and co-production of Javelin missiles and Stryker vehicles in India. 2. It announced plans to sign a new ten-year Framework for the Major Defense Partnership in 2025. 3. It described 'Tiger Triumph' as a bilateral naval exercise first held in 2023. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
The statement announced Javelin and Stryker co-production plans and a new ten-year defence framework to be signed that year. Tiger Triumph is a tri-service exercise first held in 2019, so the third statement is wrong.