Modi meets Tesla CEO Elon Musk at Blair House

Washington DC [US], February 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Tesla CEO Elon Musk at Blair House in Washington DC, on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025.

Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was accompanied by three of his children.

Musk also presented the Prime Minister with a special gift, before their discussion.

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Musk is likely to have mentioned Starlink’s plans for India during the meeting. Starlink’s license application is being reviewed and pending with the Department of Telecommunications. However, the Indian government has favored Musk’s proposal of spectrum allocation through administrative means rather than auctioning.

Indian operators have opposed the administrative allocation of spectrum, saying it will be against the ‘”level playing field” as they have acquired spectrum through bidding at a much higher cost.

On security concerns of the Indian government, it is believed that Elon Musk’s company Starlink has assured that data will be stored locally.

Musk may also spoken about prospects of collaboration between Space X and ISRO.
Earlier in December, Musk announced that Starlink’s satellite internet was inactive in India after authorities seized two of the company’s devices, one in an armed conflict zone and another in a drug smuggling zone.

Musk has also been lobbying to reduce tariffs on Tesla’s electric vehicles. Musk had agreed to export low-cost EV models of Tesla to India provided India reduces tariffs.

Before his meeting with Musk, PM Modi met US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz at the Blair House.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval were also present at the meeting. Earlier this January, Waltz, who has served as the Republican chair of the US-India caucus, highlighted India’s significance in the US’s strategic interests.
Jaishankar earlier met NSA Waltz in December last year when the two leaders held a discussion on bilateral partnership and current global issues, and Jaishankar said that he is looking forward to working with Waltz.

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to meet President Donald Trump at the White House in the evening when the two leaders also have a joint press conference at 5:10 pm Eastern Time.