Days ahead of his crucial India visit, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has made use of popular BJP election slogan- ‘Modi hai toh Mumkin hai’ to drive home the point he believes in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘ability to deliver’
“The conversations we will continue with the new government in India it has promises for its people, for our relationship and the world……As Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi said in his latest campaign, ‘Modi hai to mumkin hai,’ that is ‘Modi makes it possible’, I am looking forward to explore what’s possible between our two nations,” Mr Pompeo said in his speech at the India Ideas Summit of US-India Business Council on Wednesday.
” I am very much looking forward to his trip to New Delhi later this month, and meeting PM Modi, and his new counterpart, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar,” he said.
Heaping praise on Prime Minister, he said Mr Modi represents a new kind of leadership.
“Many observers were surprised by results (polls in India) but I was not. I had been watching closely with my team and we knew that Prime Minister is a new kind of leader. He is the son of a tea-seller who worked his way up,governing a state for 13 years and now leads one of the world’s truly emerging power,” Mr Pompeo said.
Amidst host of issues those have cropped up between India and the United States notwithstanding warmer ties between two sides, the US Secretary of State will arrive India on June 24-25 to discuss about Indo-Pacific region and other crucial matters.
State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus has said in a press briefing in Washington that –
“Secretary Pompeo will travel to the Indo Pacific region on June 24-30 to broaden and deepen our partnership with key countries to advance our shared goal of a free and open Indo Pacific”.
The Secretary’s first stop will be in New Delhi and then he would travel to Sri Lanka, Japan and South Korea.
Last week US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper was in the capital and is learned to have taken up defence cooperation with Indian side.
The US administration is keen to sell its F-16 Fighter Falcons or F-21 manufactured by Lockheed Martin or the F/A-18 Super Hornet produced by Boeing.
Both Cooper’s visit followed by that of Mike Pompeo are seen as efforts to prepare the ground for the Narendra Modi-Donald Trump meeting in Osaka during the G-20 meet on June 28 and 29 in Japan.
India is procuring 36 Rafale fighter air craft from France Dassault Aviation for its immediate needs but would still require more. The government proposed to get 114 more under the ‘Make in India’ programme – with foreign vendor tie up with an Indian partner.
Mr Pompeo also made veiled reference to ongoing trade tensions between the two countries and said the United States is open for a dialogue to iron out the differences.
“It’s a partnership of equals is how we see it. In my upcoming visit, we will probably discuss the GSP decision,” he said adding “We remain open to dialogue, and we hope that our friends in India will drop their trade barriers and trust in the competitiveness”.
Secretary of State also lauded External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and said “I know I have a strong partner, a new great counterpart in Minister Jaishankar”.
