Ahead of President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to five Asian countries including China, the United States is all set to announce its first major policy on India.
News agency PTI reported that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will on Wednesday deliver his first remarks on “Defining Our Relationship with India for the Next Century” at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a top American think tank.
This is Tillerson’s first India policy speech after becoming the top American diplomat early this year. The Secretary’s remarks assume significance as it comes close on the heels of President Donald Trump’s proposed Asia visit in November which will take him to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.
All eyes will be on Tillerson as his speech comes two days after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley ended his week-long visit to America during which he raised some of the key issues of concern, including the H-1B visas with the American leadership. Jaitley had also met Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
Tillerson had also met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New York last month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting.
Earlier in June, President Trump had hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over dinner at the White House.
Under PM Modi’s leadership, the ties between the world’s largest and oldest democracies reached a new height as the two sides have forged landmark partnerships in several key areas including defence.
Early this month, the first consignment of American crude oil reached India and the Indian companies plan to purchase crude oil worth $2 billion in the next one year. India has also placed a large defence order with the US worth billions of dollars.
With PTI Inputs
