U.S. President Donald Trump was cheered by more than 100,000 Indians at the opening of the world's biggest cricket stadium on Monday, promising "an incredible trade deal" and "the most feared military equipment on the planet" at his biggest rally abroad. 

Indians wore cardboard Trump masks and "Namaste Trump" hats to welcome him at the huge new Motera Stadium in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's own political homeland, the western city of Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat. 

Modi, a nationalist who won re-election last year, touts his relationship with Trump as proof of his own global standing. 

"As we continue to build our defense cooperation, the United States looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on the planet," said Trump. 

Trump said the two countries will sign military helicopter deals worth 3 billion U.S dollars on Tuesday and that the U.S. must become the premier defense partner of India, which has relied on Russian equipment since the Cold War.  

Reuters reported earlier that India has cleared the purchase of 24 helicopters from Lockheed Martin worth 2.6 billion dollars.

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The U.S. president heaped praise on Modi as an "exceptional leader, a great champion of India" in front of the crowd. This is the two leaders' fifth meeting in the past eight months. 

"America loves India. America respects India, and America will always be faithful and loyal friends to the Indian people," Trump said to thunderous applause. 

Trump – with an eye on elections in November – paid tribute to the 4-million-strong Indian-American diaspora as "truly special people."  

"President Trump's visit opens a new chapter in our relationship – a chapter that will document the progress and prosperity of the people of America and India," Modi said. "The whole world knows what President Trump has done to fulfill the dreams of America."

The two sides did not manage to hammer out a trade deal ahead of the visit, with differences remaining over agriculture, medical devices, digital trade and proposed new tariffs. Trump said he was going to discuss economic ties with Modi, describing him as a tough negotiator. 

"We will be making very, very major, among the biggest ever made, trade deals. We are in the early stages of discussion for an incredible trade agreement to reduce barriers of investment between the United States and India," he said. 

"And I am optimistic that working together, the prime minister and I can reach a fantastic deal that's good and even great for both of our countries – except that he is a very tough negotiator," Trump added.

The two countries have been arguing over U.S. demands for access to India's poultry and dairy markets, Indian price controls on medical devices such as stents, and stringent local data storage rules that U.S. technology firms say will raise the cost of doing business. 

The Indian government has sought restoration of trade concessions Trump withdrew in 2019 and greater access to U.S. markets for Indian pharmaceutical and farm products. 

Modi, who has built a personal rapport with Trump, is pulling out the stops for Trump's visit even though prospects for even a limited trade deal are seen as slim. 

"There is so much that we share, shared values and ideals...shared opportunities and challenges, shared hopes and aspirations," said Modi at the rally. 

The duo together garlanded an image of Indian independence hero Mahatma Gandhi after stopping briefly to visit his former home, Sabarmati Ashram. 

From Ahmedabad, Trump and his entourage headed to Agra for a sunset visit to the Taj Mahal. 

(With input from Reuters, AFP) 

(Cover: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave after a welcoming event at Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium, in Ahmedabad, India, February 24, 2020. /AP)