Talks to iron out trade differences; terrorism, Iran also on discussion list
The entire gamut of bilateral relations between India and the US will be discussed during US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo’s two-day visit to New Delhi on Wednesday. This will be first high-level visit by a foreign dignitary since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed charge for the second time and will see issues, including terrorism, trade ties, growing defence and strategic ties figuring, prominently in the discussion.
India is likely to urge the US to supply armed predator drones, naval helicopters, surface to air missiles and attack helicopters to its armed forces.
Giving a hint on the issues which will be on the table during his forthcoming talks with Pompeo, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday that India will try to find common ground on trade issues during discussions. Terrorism, Afghanistan, the Indo-Pacific, Iran, trade issues, and growing bilateral defence ties will be the focus of the bilateral discussions on Wednesday. Pompeo will also call on Modi.
“We will be meeting with a positive attitude,” Jaishankar told reporters in Gandhinagar after filing his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha poll from Gujarat. “The meeting with Mike Pompeo will be an important one. We will definitely discuss issues related to trade between the two countries,” Jaishankar said.
“Both the countries are having their own interests. And it is natural to have some conflicts because of that. We will find a common ground using diplomacy. We will hold discussions with the US with a positive approach,” he said. His remarks assume significance against the backdrop of increasing tension in trade ties between India and US.
This will be Pompeo’s first visit after the NDA Government returned to power last month and also a few days before Modi and US President Donald Trump are likely to meet on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan on June 28-29.
The US Foreign Secretary’s visit will give a boost to the engagement between the political leaderships of India and the US, the MEA had said last week. The visiting dignitary is likely to deliver a public lecture, addressing the next generation of Indian youth and discuss tricky issues like H1B visas for IT workers and Indian plans for data localisation.
US reservations over India inking Rs 50,000 crore deal for Russian S-400 anti-missile systems and 5G telecommunications will also figure prominently. India has already stated it shares long standing strategic ties with Russia and will not back down from the deal and the US is likely maintain in that case it will be difficult for it to offer high technology weapon systems.
“There will be certain issues that will be on the table at all points of time,” said the MEA Spokesperson. “Overall direction of the relationship remains very positive,” he said, highlighting the fact that bilateral trade had grown over the years to about $150 billion.
The official maintained that the US had not officially informed India about any plans in relation to H1B visas for IT professionals.
The Iran sanctions are expected to be taken up during the Trump-Modi bilateral, and India’s concerns on energy security would be discussed during Pompeo’s visit, said officials.
Pompeo and Jaishankar will also plan the next course for future engagements. Both Governments are exploring the possibility of another meeting between Trump and Modi at the UN General Assembly in September this year, and Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will head to Washington for the annual 2+2 summit around the same time.
As regards defence ties, India is eyeing procurement of ten more P-8 I long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft from the US through the foreign military sale (FMS) or Government to Government sale route. This proposed deal is worth over three billion dollars. The Indian Navy already has 12 such aircraft. This may figure in the talks between Pompeo and Jaishankar.
Similarly, India is keen to buy US manufactured 30 Sea Guardian Predator armed drones for the three services. The proposed deal is worth over three billion dollars. The other contracts in the pipeline are 24 naval multi-role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ helicopters ($2.6 billion) and the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System-II missile shield over Delhi ($1 billion) besides six more Apache attack helicopters ($950 million).