Planning is underway for United States President Donald Trump to visit India early next year, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday, signalling renewed momentum in bilateral ties following a recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit.
Speaking to mediapersons, Rubio said preparations for the presidential visit were linked to progress on a long-pending bilateral trade agreement, which he indicated was nearing completion.
"We had a great meeting with the Prime Minister, the President did at the G7. And we're hoping to finalise a trade deal. We're in the last few inches of getting it done, and it's very positive. We look forward to re-engaging again in another Quad meeting very soon, and I look forward to returning myself before the end of the year and setting up a presidential visit in the early parts of next year,” Rubio said.
If the visit materialises, it will be Trump's first trip to India since February 2020, when he travelled to New Delhi, Agra and Ahmedabad. The visit was marked by the 'Namaste Trump' event at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad, which drew a crowd of more than 100,000 people.
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US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also highlighted the recent meeting between Modi and Trump in France, saying the two leaders held discussions on a range of issues, including defence cooperation.
Gor said the engagement had placed the relationship on a strong footing and suggested that several important announcements could follow in the coming months.
"I think we're in a great place. One of the biggest anchors of this relationship is the bond between the President and the Prime Minister. That relationship has always remained strong. Sometimes the media likes to portray it as if something has happened, but the President and the Prime Minister are great friends. That friendship goes back years and will continue for years to come. Every time the two speak, great things happen. Since arriving in India, my goal has been to ensure that both sides remain in regular contact, keep moving the relationship forward, and identify win-win opportunities for both our countries,” Gor said.
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