Modi hails ‘growing convergence’ of US-India interests

Washington : India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the increasing “convergence” of US-Indian interests and values, as he prepared for his first face-to-face meeting yesterday with President Donald Trump.

Modi brimmed with optimism about the future of trade and diplomatic relations between the world’s two largest democracies in an opinion piece appearing in Monday’s Wall Street Journal.

Following a visit to the United States one year ago, when he addressed a joint session of the US Congress, Modi wrote that he returns “confident in the growing convergence between our two nations.”

“This confidence stems from the strength of our shared values and the stability of our systems,” the Indian leader wrote.

“In an uncertain global economic landscape, our two nations stand as mutually reinforcing engines of growth and innovation,” he said in the daily.

“Whenever India and the US work together, the world reaps the benefits.”

Modi and Trump are due to hold afternoon talks and a working dinner at the White House, though no press conference is scheduled.

On Sunday, the Indian leader met with top American executives, painting for them a picture of a business-friendly India with “minimum” governmental encumbrances.

That message is expected to resonate with Trump, who has proposed streamlining what he calls business-hampering US regulations and cutting the budgets of several US government agencies. 

“India believes that a strong America is good for the world,” Modi told the CEOs, according to the foreign ministry in New Delhi.

Day of meetings

Ahead of his talks with Trump, Modi was meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis as India eyes the purchase of more military equipment from the US.

Although there are not expected to be any major defence announcements, the California-based contractor General Atomics said it had been given clearance by the US government to sell drones to the Indian army.

Afghanistan on agenda 

Regional security is expected to be high on the agenda as Washington considers deploying up to 5,000 extra troops in Afghanistan to help local forces fighting insurgent groups and seeks to encourage what an administration official describes as India’s “positive role” in the country.

Trump’s administration has meanwhile indicated it could take a tougher stance on Pakistan, which India has long accused of harbouring militant groups.