 Photo: CNN/VOV |
When he took office in 2017, President Trump announced an Indo-Pacific strategy to enhance India’s role in regional security. Both sides have ambitions to increase cooperation within the strategy.
“Not just another partnership”
Trump’s visit to India is of great significance in bilateral relations. Arriving in India, Trump was lavish in praising US-India relations, saying India is a special place to the US. He said "America loves India, America respects India, and Americans will always be faithful and loyal friends to the Indian people.” Before his visit, Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi his friend and said he was looking forward to visiting India. These words signaled that Trump wants to open the way for important agreements during his visit.
Modi was equally exuberant in his compliments of Trump. He said “India-US relations are no longer just another partnership, it’s a far greater and closer relationship.” His words were echoed by a large scale and friendly reception for Trump. About 100,000 people attended the meeting to welcome President Trump at Motera stadium. Tens of thousands of people lined the streets to greet the visiting President.
A premise for important agreements
India is the US’s strategic ally in Asia. In 2019 the US surpassed China to become India’s biggest trade partner with trade revenue reaching nearly 88 billion USD. This signals closer economic ties between New Delhi and Washington in the future.
Recent tensions between the US and India intensified in May 2019 when the US suspended its trade preference program with India. In retaliation India increased import tariffs on 28 commodities from the US.
During his visit Trump will seek concessions from New Delhi in return for resuming trade preferences.
After signing a 1st-phase trade agreement with China, Trump now wants to reach a trade deal with India before the US presidential election in November. Speaking to the media last Tuesday in the US, Trump said the US and India are working on a major trade deal, but he was not sure if it would be completed before the election. Over the past 18 years trade delegations from the two countries have conducted several meetings in Washington, New Delhi, and New York.
Trump and Modi have discussed defense, energy, medical equipment, and agricultural issues. During a recent phone call, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi agreed that this visit will strengthen the US-India strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people.