US President Donald Trump will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official dinner tonight
US President Donald Trump hosts Prime Minister Narendra Modi today for a first tete-a-tete aimed at building a personal rapport in spite of very real divergences between the two leaders, whether on climate change or immigration.
A senior Indian official said he hoped for "chemistry," while a US official said the two leaders had a lot in common, noting that PM Modi would be the first foreign dignitary to have a working dinner at the White House under the new administration.
Initial signs were upbeat, with President Trump describing Prime Minister Modi as a "true friend!" on Twitter, and the Indian leader posting that he "greatly looked forward" to the one-on-one.
Some commentators have suggested PM Modi and President Trump should have a natural affinity, having both risen to power in part by castigating the traditional ruling elite while offering a strongly nationalistic vision.
"Both have portrayed themselves as outsiders, promised jobs and to make their countries respected (again), and used or taken advantage of identity politics," wrote Tanvi Madan of the Brookings Institution.
Both prefer to reach out directly to their base via social media, where PM Modi's nearly 31 million Twitter followers rival President Trump's 32 million.
Relations between the world's two largest democracies had warmed under Mr Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, as India sought greater foreign investment and trade ties. But it was not long after Mr Trump's election that obstacles emerged on issues such as trade and visas for Indians wanting to work in the United States.
A proposed overhaul of H-1B visas -- used by thousands of Indian software engineers to work in the United States -- has caused concern in New Delhi.
Then the US President accused India of seeking to profit from the Paris climate accord as he announced the US withdrawal from the deal this month -- drawing sharp denials from New Delhi.
After an Oval Office meeting mid-afternoon, the leaders will dine together at the White House. A twenty-minute press conference has been scheduled, where the two leaders will give their statements and are likely to take one question each from the media.
On Sunday, PM Modi told top American executives that India is a business-friendly country of "minimum government" -- a message expected to resonate with Mr Trump, who has proposed streamlining what he calls business-hampering US regulations and cutting the budgets of several US government agencies.
His protectionist instincts, however, are at odds with India's efforts to boost exports and encourage Western manufacturers to "Make In India" -- PM Modi's flagship scheme.
PM Modi's core goals for the meeting, analysts say, are simple. "Ensure that India is on the US' radar, and that the new US administration maintains policy continuity with the last one," said Shailesh Kumar of the Eurasia group.
"PM Modi will arrive at the White House with a full-on charm offensive aimed squarely at Donald Trump," he said.
"PM Modi will try to give Trump some tweetable wins," Tanvi Madan said, which in the defense arena could see the announcement of a $2 billion deal by US manufacturer General Atomics to supply unarmed drones to India.
The White House refuses to comment on US arms sales before Congress has been officially notified, but a senior administration official underscored that "this defense relationship is extremely important for both countries".
Regional security is expected to be high on the agenda as Washington considers deploying up to 5,000 extra troops in Afghanistan to help local forces fighting insurgent groups and seeks to encourage what an administration official describes as India's "positive role" in the country.
President Trump's administration has meanwhile indicated it could take a tougher stance on Pakistan over harbouring terrorist groups.