Focus on defence, security, trade and boosting strategic ties during Pompeo's 3-day visit to India

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be in New Delhi to strengthen ties among the oldest and the largest democracies amidst the changing world order.

This will be the first high-level US visit after the general elections. Here's taking a look at what could possibly be on table for discussion during Pompeo's three-day visit.

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo will arrive in India as part of his three-day visit to India. Pompeo last visited India in September 2018 for the 2+2 dialogue. 

Pompeo is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 26, 2019. Jaishankar will also host a lunch for his US counterpart.

(Image courtesy: IANS, Reuters)

Pompeo's visit will provide "an important opportunity for both sides to explore further ways to strengthen India-US strategic partnership", according to MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

Pompeo`s visit to India comes in the backdrop of escalating tensions between the US and Iran and trade differences between New Delhi and Washington.
 

The two sides will hold high-level engagements on matters of mutual interest including bilateral, regional and global issues. 

On June 15, India imposed retaliatory tariffs on American goods, less than two weeks after Trump announced an end to preferential trade treatment for India over the trade barriers.

 

On June 20, Pompeo spoke with Jaishankar to congratulate him on his appointment as External Affairs Minister and reiterated the US' strong commitment towards advancing strategic partnership between the two countries.

"Secretary Pompeo and Minister Jaishankar also discussed shared US and Indian objectives in safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific, US-India security cooperation and the US-India economic partnership," the spokesperson of the US State Department, Morgan Ortagus, said in a statement. 

The diplomats are expected to discuss ways to further cooperation on Indo Pacific strategy, defence ties and security mechanism. 

With Washington threatening a cap on H1b visas, the issue is likely to be taken up during Pompeo's visit. India had, previously, reiterated the significance of Indian professionals working in the United States and their contribution to the US economy and growth. 

On June 15, India imposed retaliatory tariffs on American goods, less than two weeks after Trump announced an end to preferential trade treatment for India over the trade barriers. Indo-US trade dynamics may occur in the dialogue during the three-day talks. 

EAM S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that there will be talks on trade issues definitely. "We've our interests and US have their own, sometimes they converge and sometimes they don't. Diplomacy is about finding common ground on these interests," news agency ANI reported. 

In addition, Pompeo's visit will further prepare grounds for a summit meeting between US President Donald Trump and Modi in Osaka on the sidelines of the G20 meeting scheduled to be held on June 28-29.