India and the United States of America have finally announced the schedule of President Barack Obama’s much-awaited visit. Obama will be the first US President to be the guest of honour for India’s Republic Day parade. Details of his schedule have been kept under wraps so far.
Cooperation in key areas of Defence, security, counter-terrorism, energy and the situation in India’s extended neighbourhood would be among the issues to be discussed between Obama and Modi.
Obama will arrive in New Delhi on January 25 at about 10.30 am and drive to Rashtrapati Bhavan for a ceremonial reception. This will be followed by a visit to Rajghat, and then he will lead a team of senior US secretaries and officials for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian PM will be assisted by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval among others. This will be followed by a luncheon and delegation-level discussions at Hyderabad House. In the evening, President Pranab Mukherjee will host a banquet for Obama.
On January 26, Obama will witness Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath. In the latter half of the day, he will address a conference of business heads at Hotel Taj Palace. On January 27, Obama will deliver a speech relating to US-India relationship at Siri Fort Auditorium before visiting the Taj Mahal. He will depart from India the same day.
Modi and Obama will jointly address the nation over radio through Modi’s Mann ki Baat programme on January 27. The programme will be recorded a day earlier. PM Modi has sought questions from the public on this. “This month’s Mann ki Baat episode will be a special one, where our Republic Day guest Obama & I will share our thoughts together. I am eagerly looking forward to the special Mann ki Baat programme with President@BarackObama, which will be aired on January 27,” Modi tweeted.
Obama will be accompanied by his wife Michelle Obama and a delegation of several top officials. The US delegation also has Nancy Pelosi, minority leader of the US House, Senator Mark Warner, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Trade Representative Michael Froman apart from several American business leaders.
Stating that India is looking at substantive deliverables, spokesperson for Ministry of External Affairs Akbaruddin said cooperation in key areas of Defence, security, counter-terrorism, energy and the situation in India’s extended neighbourhood would be among the issues to be discussed between Obama and Modi. India is likely to raise the issue of terrorism across the border during bilateral discussions and threats posing challenges for both India and the US.
“From our perspective, the US is a key partner for capital, technology, knowledge and skills in our development effort as also potentially important source of clean energy technology and hydrocarbons. It is an important partner in areas like defence technology and counter-terrorism. The US is also an important factor in our space security and cyber security and a key interlocutor in adjustments to the global security and economic architecture including reforms of the UN Security Council,” Akbaruddin said.
In defence, India is also looking at joint collaboration and transfer of technology from the US. Under Secretary Frank Kendal, in charge of acquisitions in Pentagon met top Defence Ministry officials on Thursday to discuss the proposed Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) pact. This agreement is likely to be signed during Obama’s visit. DTTI aims at laying base for joint production of weapon systems in India and US besides Washington sharing cutting edge technology with Indian Defence industry. While the US is keen to have the formal Initiative in place, India is approaching it in a guarded manner due to apprehensions that the US may deny latest technology like it did in the wake of Shakti series of nuclear tests in 1999.
The two countries will also sign the new 10-year Defence Framework Agreement. The first framework pact was inked for 10 years in 2005 by then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his US counterpart Donald Rumsfeld. The new Framework Agreement covers more robust defence ties between the two countries like intense exchanges between the armed forces of two countries through joint exercises, sources said. The Agreement will also cover fight against terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Improving bilateral trade and investment ties even as Modi seeks support for Make in India, is also scheduled for which standard draft on Bilateral Investment Treaty is being reviewed. The US has set an ambitious target to increase bilateral trade from current $100 billion to $500 billion.
In london, India and the US negotiators are trying to resolve the differences in operationalising the civil nuclear deal ahead of Obama’s arrival. The two sides have met three times in last 45 days. Akbaruddin said under the nuclear “rubric”, the Group was discussing administrative arrangements, how to actualise India’s quest for membership of Nuclear Supplier’s Group and also issues related to clarification and understanding of our nuclear liability regime. Akbaruddin added that India was looking forward to “effectively” work with the US in the “extremely important” nuclear field.