Decoding Issues That Narendra Modi & Donald Trump Could Discuss Upon Their Meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed to the United States of America to meet and hold talks with the US President Donald Trump. Narendra Modi would also be the first eminent guest to have dinner with Trump in the White House. Reports suggest that he is in for a red carpet welcome.

Before leaving, Modi took to Twitter to inform the entire nation of his crucial visit to the US and ever since he boarded his flight, almost everyone started guessing the major issues that he would discuss with Trump at the dinner table.

This is what he tweeted:

(Image Courtesy: Twitter)

Many people are speculating that among various issues, the leaders will be discussing gripping topics like terrorism, finance deals and even bilateral ties. Here is our attempt to decode that could happen on the PM’s visit to Washington:

At Dinner Table & Beyond

• The official talks will be held on June 26 in a familiar routine, which are restricted talks followed by delegation level talks, a meeting with CEOs and a press conference.

• Apart from official meetings with Trump and his cabinet colleagues, PM Modi will be meeting some prominent American CEOs, in line. The formal talks will be held on June 26 in a familiar routine, which are restricted talks followed by delegation level talks, a meeting with CEOs and a press conference.

(Image Courtesy: India TV)

• Sources close to the development have told news agencies that the meeting on June 26 will mainly focus on a gamut of bilateral issues, including concerns over H1B visa rules and ways to counter global terrorism. "I think you can expect the two of them to set forth a vision that will expand the US-India partnership in an ambitious and worthy way of both countries' people," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily news conference.

• Some of the major talking points will be on strengthening US-India defense partnership, which is set to get a forward push after the aerial drone request approval. Considering recent events, it is almost sure that the two nations would be looking to bolster defense partnership. Several reports indicate that food and agricultural terms may also be discussed. Health security, development in technology and IT will also be of high focus.

• As earlier reports suggested that Trump’s administration is planning to harden its stand towards Pakistan, to crackdown on flourishing terrorism in the region that has led to a slew of attacks on Afghanistan, it is almost sure that PM Modi and Donald Trump will hold discussions on ways to curb global terrorism, much of which is emerging from middle east countries. Likewise, India’s relation with Pakistan will undoubtedly feature in the discussions. Both the right-wing leaders, who have condemned acts of terrorism in the past, have hardened their stance against Pakistan.

Other Plans

• PM Modi is also attending a smaller community event on Sunday in a Virginia suburb of Washington DC. The Sunday afternoon reception is invitation only and has been restricted to leaders of the community organizations and eminent Indian-Americans from across the country. It is understood that the community reception can accommodate about 600 people. In addition to the community events, several think-tanks and organizations have planned a series of activities coinciding with the US-India Summit on Monday.

• Like in the past, Modi will also be interacting with the Indian diaspora. In the first leg of the tour, Modi will pay a working visit tomorrow to Portugal where he will have talks with Prime Minister Antonio Costa. "Building on our recent discussions, we will review the progress of various joint initiatives and decisions," he said about his upcoming meeting with Costa.

(Featured Image Courtesy: Your Story)