India, US likely to ramp up defence, strategic ties during visit
India and the USA are expected to significantly ramp up bilateral relations, especially in the defence and strategic ties, during US President Donald Trump’s two-day India visit starting on Monday.
Just before he emplaned for India on Sunday, Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi his “friend” and said he had committed to this visit long time back and he was looking forward to be with the people of India.
Trump is accompanied by First Lady Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and the top brass of his Administration.
Trump will arrive at Ahemdabad around 11.30 am, attend a roadshow, briefly visit Sabarmati Ashram, and also watch cultural performances. Prime Minister Modi is expected to receive him at the airport.
Modi will accompany Trump to the Ashram, which is closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi and India’s freedom struggle, in the midst of their joint roadshow from the international airport.
Earlier, confusion prevailed over Trump’s visit to the Ashram. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Friday said the White
House will take a call on such visit.
“Trump will arrive at the Ahmedabad International Airport at 11:30 am tomorrow (February 24). It was already announced that Trump will land here directly here from Washington. At the airport, he will be given the guard of honour,” Ahmedabad city Police Commissioner Ashish Bhatia said while addressing reporters. He said Trump would embark on a roadshow after attending a cultural programme.
“Trump will then proceed for the Sabarmati Ashram which he would be visiting for a very short time. From the Ashram, Trump will resume the roadshow, and reach the Motera stadium via Indira bridge,” the Police Commissioner said.
Modi and Trump are scheduled to address the “Namaste Trump” event at the Motera cricket stadium.
Just before his departure, Trump said he had committed to visit India long time back and he is looking forward to be with the people of India. “I look forward to being with the people of India. We are going to have many millions and millions of people. It’s a long trip. I get along very well with Prime Minister Modi. He is a friend of mine,” Trump told reporters outside the White House.
“I had committed to this trip long time ago. I look forward to it. I hear it’s going to be a big event... The biggest event they ever had in India. That’s what the Prime Minister told me. It’s the biggest event they ever had. It’s going to be very exciting. I am going to be there for one night,” said the US President in response to a question.
The maiden visit to India is expected to significantly ramp up bilateral defence and strategic ties but unlikely to produce tangible outcome in resolving thorny issues like trade tariffs.
The nearly 36-hour-long visit by Trump is also set to send across a clear message of growing congruence of interests on major geopolitical developments in the region and beyond, particularly when China has been expanding its military might and economic clout.
Trump, who is seeking re-election in the US presidential elections in November, will get a rousing welcome.
“Namaste Trump” will be similar to the landmark “Howdy, Modi!” event hosted by the Indian-American community in honour of Modi during his visit to Houston in September 2019.
From Ahmedabad, the US President will travel to Agra to have a glimpse of the iconic Taj Mahal. The Trump family will spend about an hour at the Taj Mahal before sunset. Then they will leave for Delhi for the main leg of the visit.
On the morning of February 25, Trump and the First Lady would be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. From there, they would go to Raj Ghat to pay homage at the “samadhi” of Mahatma Gandhi.
It would be followed by restricted and delegation-level talks between Trump and Modi at Hyderabad House. Prime Minister Modi would host a lunch for the US president following the bilateral talks.
In the afternoon, Trump is expected to attend certain private events at the US Embassy, including a roundtable with industry representatives. In the evening, the US president will meet President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
A banquet will be hosted by Kovind. President Trump would depart from India later that evening.
In their talks on Tuesday, Trump and Prime Minister Modi are likely to focus on a wide variety of bilateral and regional issues including trade and investment, defence and security, counter-terrorism, energy security, religious freedom, proposed peace deal with Taliban in Afghanistan and situation in the Indo-Pacific, according to Indian and US officials.
Trump’s visit to India comes at a time when the country has been witnessing widespread protests against a new citizenship law and strain in New Delhi’s ties with Islamabad over the Kashmir issue.
The visiting American delegation includes Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and National Security Adviser Robert O’ Brien.
Senior advisers to the President Stephen Miller, Dan Scavino, Chief of Staff to the First Lady Lindsay Reynolds, Assistant to the President and Special Representative for International Telecommunication Policy and Senior Adviser to the Chief of Staff Robert Blair, and White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham are the other members of the delegation.
United States Ambassador to India Ken Juster is also part of the delegation.