AFP |
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday he would visit India this month to forge closer relations with re-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
US eyes "incredibly important" ties with India during Mike Pompeo's visit to New Delhi. Details herehttps://t.co/7O3zLec7H2
— Republic (@republic) June 11, 2019
Pompeo told reporters that he would outline areas for new cooperation with Modi’s India during a speech Wednesday in Washington ahead of his trip to New Delhi.
State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus, speaking after Pompeo, said the top US diplomat could leave for Delhi on June 24.
.@StateDeptSpox: @SecPompeo will travel to India, Sri Lanka, Japan, and the Republic of Korea on June 24-30. pic.twitter.com/RF2TpljyWS
— Department of State (@StateDept) June 10, 2019
“Prime Minister Modi’s recent election victory provides an excellent opportunity for him to implement his vision of a strong and prosperous India that plays a leading role on the global stage,” she said.
Pompeo on his visit to Sri Lanka will express America’s solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka as they stand united against the despicable Easter Sunday attacks
Pompeo will work with Modi to “broaden our partnership” in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region – a growing catchphrase from Washington amid high tensions between the United States and China.
Modi, a Hindu nationalist who won a convincing new mandate in the world’s largest elections, has supported growing cooperation with the United States, especially on defense.
Before he embarks on his trip, he will be addressing the India Ideas Summit of US-India Business Council on June 12, in Washington DC where he will be interacting with Indian business honchos.https://t.co/KtALWdhSFk
— Financial Express (@FinancialXpress) June 11, 2019
But trade tensions have also been rising between the two countries, with President Donald Trump’s administration forcing energy-hungry India to stop buying oil from Iran and Venezuela.
Complaining of closed markets, Trump has also removed India from the Generalized System of Preferences, a key trading preference under which India exported $5.6 billion in goods to the United States in 2017.
Read more: US Decision to End India’s Preferential Trade Status a “Done Deal”
Pompeo will also visit Sri Lanka in the aftermath of coordinated Easter Sunday attacks against three hotels and three churches, which left 258 people dead and 500 injured.
Pompeo, an evangelical Christian, “will express America’s solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka as they stand united against the despicable Easter Sunday attacks” and also look at further opportunities with the Indian Ocean nation, Ortagus said.
Pompeo will later join President Donald Trump at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka and on his visit to South Korea, Ortagus said.
AFP with additional input by GVS news desk