It's not just trade, Trump’s India visit is about Indo-US strategic partnership

American President Donald Trump's visit to India is suspected to be a stepping stone towards a major trade deal between India and the US. Senior Journalist Krishnanand Tripathi, however, says that this visit is more about strengthening the bilateral relations between the two nations. Moreover, the trade deal does not seem to be on cards with President Trump himself denying the same.

Hyderabad:US President Donald Trump has arrived in India. The President’s maiden India visit is crucial for strengthening the bilateral relations even if no trade deal is signed between the countries during this visit, said a former diplomat. The visit will help in boosting the bilateral cooperation in the fields of defence, counter terrorism and energy sector, he said.

“Indo-US relations are not just about trade, they cover an entire gamut of issues including strategic cooperation in defence and energy sectors,” said Rajiv Bhatia, former ambassador and distinguished fellow at Gateway House, a foreign policy think tank.

There were strong indications that both the nations may sign a limited trade deal that will cover up to $10 billion of bilateral trade during President Trump’s India visit. But the US leader last week confirmed that there will not be a trade deal during this visit.

“I’m really saving the big deal for later on,” said President Trump last week.

“I don’t know if it will be done before the election, but we’ll have a very big deal with India,’’ said the US leader ahead of his India visit.

It confirmed the suspicion that even a modest trade deal was at least months away as US Presidential elections are due in the first week of November.

However, foreign relations experts like Rajiv Bhatia, who headed several Indian missions abroad during his more than three decades long stint with India’s elite foreign service, are optimistic about the positive impact President Trump’s India visit will have on bilateral relations.

“The US President is still the world’s most powerful leader and his India visit will be watched around the world,” Rajiv Bhatia told ETV Bharat.

He said Donald Trump’s visit is about entire relationship, it will strengthen the strategic partnership, deepen the cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism activities among other things.

“US President’s India visit will also help in building a common perspective on China, South Asia and Afghanistan,” he said.

Both India and the US have suffered from the terrorism that emanates from Af-Pak region and share common concerns about safety and stability of the region.

India and the US also have common views about the freedom of navigation in Indo-Pacific region including South China Sea where the China has sparred with its neighbors such as Japan, Vietnam and Philippines over territorial claims and the right to exploit undersea resources.

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