PM Modi, Elon Musk Discuss Strengthening India-US Tech Collaboration Ahead of Key Diplomatic Engagements

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk held a high-level conversation on Friday, reaffirming their commitment to advancing technology and innovation partnerships between India and the United States. The discussion, which took place over a telephone call, revisited points raised during their in-person meeting in Washington earlier this year.

The conversation comes at a strategically significant moment as both nations seek to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in emerging technologies, space exploration, electric vehicles, and satellite internet services.

“We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation,” Prime Minister Modi posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. “India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these critical domains.”

The renewed dialogue also coincides with preparations for an upcoming four-day visit to India by US Vice-President JD Vance, beginning April 21. Vance is expected to meet Prime Minister Modi on the first day of his visit to discuss matters ranging from economic cooperation and digital infrastructure to strategic Indo-Pacific issues.

Business and Diplomacy Intersect

The Modi-Musk phone call underscores the growing intersection of global business and international diplomacy. Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, as well as the recently created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been a vocal proponent of closer US-India business ties.

His visit to India is also widely speculated to be on the horizon, especially as two of his companies — Starlink and Tesla — inch closer to major market entries.

In March, Starlink secured preliminary agreements with two of India’s leading telecom operators to bring satellite-based broadband internet services to remote and underserved regions of the country. The deal, pending final regulatory approvals, could be a major milestone in India’s Digital India campaign.

Tesla, meanwhile, has quietly initiated recruitment in major Indian cities including Delhi and Mumbai. Reports indicate the company is scouting locations for its first Indian showrooms, further fueling speculation of an imminent official launch.

“Tesla's entry into the Indian EV market could redefine the country’s clean mobility roadmap,” said Ritu Anand, an auto industry analyst at PolicyTrack. “And with Starlink, India could see a new era of rural connectivity.”

Strategic Timing Amid Trade Turbulence

The timing of Modi’s outreach to Musk is no coincidence. The Indian government is currently working towards concluding a bilateral trade agreement with the US, following Washington’s decision to impose 27% tariffs on select Indian exports earlier this month.

Although President Donald Trump paused the tariffs temporarily with a 90-day window, the broader trade environment remains tense. Delhi and Washington are using this period to expedite ongoing trade negotiations and minimize long-term fallout.

India’s push to strengthen ties with US businesses is also seen as a strategic counterbalance to China’s increasing assertiveness in global trade. New restrictions imposed by the US on AI chip exports to China — including those produced by Nvidia — have further elevated the urgency for alternative tech alliances.

“With the US-China trade war deepening, India is positioning itself as a stable and democratic partner for global tech giants,” said Dr. Aparna Mathur, a trade policy advisor at the Indian Institute for Global Affairs. “The Musk-Modi talks reflect both economic pragmatism and geopolitical calculation.”

The Vance Factor

Adding a personal touch to geopolitics, US Vice-President JD Vance is set to visit India accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance — whose family traces its roots to Andhra Pradesh — and their children. The visit, scheduled from April 21 to 24, is expected to further strengthen people-to-people ties while addressing a range of pressing policy issues.

While trade and innovation are high on the agenda, both sides are also expected to explore collaboration in areas such as defense manufacturing, critical minerals, space research, and renewable energy.

“Vice-President Vance’s visit reflects the bipartisan consensus in Washington on strengthening US-India ties,” noted Michael Rosenfeld, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic Futures. “The technology sector is a key part of that equation.”