Trump Meets Modi: A Political Bromance At Best
President Trump’s first-ever meeting with PM Modi breaks through the malaise and establishes the bonhomie between the leaders and sets the stage for the paradigm shift towards a greater India-US relation.
After Trump's and Modi's one-on-one meeting, hour-long delegation-level talks between the two countries took place in the cabinet room of the White House. With PM Modi, Indian side was represented by India’s Foreign Secretary, S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser(NSA), Ajit Doval and the Indian ambassador to the US, Navtej Sarna. The US side was represented by US Vice President Mike Pence, Defence Secretary, James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and National Security Adviser Lt Gen. H.R. McMaster.
With several common grounds and mutual admiration of each other, President Trump greeted Modi as “true friend” and praised PM Modi for undertaking biggest reforms, including the overhauling of Tax structure of India and steps for addressing corruption. President Trump said: “In just two weeks, you (Narendra Modi) will begin to implement largest tax overhaul in your country’s history, we are doing that also by the way”. The stage was set.
The two leaders then issued a joint statement in the Rose Garden of the White House.
Highlights of the meeting:
India-US relations have never been so stronger: President Trump: President Donald Trump declared Monday that ties between Washington and New Delhi had never been stronger after holding his first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Trump speaks: “I have great admiration for India's culture and heritage. Congratulations to India on their 70th year of Independence”.
PM Modi presented a folio to President Trump, containing an original commemorative postal stamp that had been issued by India in 1965.
Photo: Twitter@ PMO India
Working together for countering terrorism and Radicalism: PM Modi: “we discussed the problems arising due to terrorism and radicalism. We held talks on the wide range of issues pertaining to India-US relationships”.
Exporting energy and natural gas to India: President Trump: Looking forward to exporting more US energy to India as your economy grows, including a major long-term contract to purchase natural gas.
Indian Economy is the fastest growing: President Trump: Your (PM Modi) accomplishments have been vast. India has the fastest growing economy, and the US hopes to catch up soon: President Donald Trump.
Green light to $2 billion Drone deal with India: President Trump administration cleared the sale of Drones required for India defence for the strategic surveillance. “We are pleased that the US
government has cleared the way for the sale of the MQ-9B Guardian to the Indian government," Linden Blue, CEO of the manufacturer, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, said in a statement.
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