The United States’ top official, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that President Donald Trump will visit India in the early days of this new year, making it clear that close relations already exist between the two nations’ leaders and of how strong their ties are between the two governments.
Rubio said the preparations are under way for the planned trip and hope that he’ll visit India later this year to finalize the arrangements in Washington DC. “We’re hoping that’s what we’re working towards – sometime early next year to have the President come,” Rubio said.
The visit would be Trump’s first after having returned to the White House for his second term, following the one he made to India back in February 2020. Along with Trump’s recent sidelines chats with Prime Minister Modi at the G7 Summit in Evian, France, the proposed trip followed their last encounter in 16 months, which occurred in New Delhi on July 6.The planned trip comes after Trump met Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France, 16 months ago on July 6 this year.
Rubio applauded the “personal relationship” between the two leaders, as an important element of Indian-American cooperation. The relations between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump “can’t be closer,” he added, citing a significant improvement in bilateral cooperation.
The US Secretary of State also confirmed that bilateral negotiations on an agreement are also currently in their final stages. Rubio says the talks, which he calls very positive, are on the last inches of reaching an agreement with both countries.
Besides, Rubio said both countries are excited for the next Quad session and Washington remains committed to building even closer strategic relationship with New Delhi.
Characterizing PM Modi as “a true visionary,” Rubio has called him a “fan” of the Indian PM and said that he is “taking India forward like nothing had come in between. This is likely to further enhance cooperation in the fields of trade, defence and Indo Pacific security if the visit gets confirmed by the POTUS.