US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to meet Jaishankar today, strategic partnership, trade deal in focus

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived New Delhi on Tuesday night on his three-day visit to the country to strengthen strategic ties between the two nations.

Pompeo will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Wednesday to discuss agenda for the US-India strategic partnership.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, who will host a working lunch for Pompeo this afternoon, said India will try to find common ground on trade issues during their discussions. "We will be meeting with a positive attitude...The meeting with Mike Pompeo will be an important one. We will definitely discuss issues related to trade between the two countries," Mr Jaishankar told reporters on Tuesday. "Both the countries are having their own interests. And it is natural to have some conflicts because of that. We will find a common ground using diplomacy. We will hold discussions with the US with a positive approach," he added.

He will also deliver a speech on the future of the relationship and opportunities for cooperation on global issues of shared concern.

As vibrant democracies rooted in shared values, with fast-growing economies, cultures of entrepreneurship, and leadership positions on the global stage, the United States and India are natural strategic partners, a statement issued by the US Department of State said.

US President Donald Trump and Modi are firmly committed to accelerating the upward trajectory of this partnership. Modi's sweeping mandate in the recent elections creates a unique opportunity to realise this vision, it said.

The statement further said: "The US and India are moving quickly to achieve our shared vision for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region by expanding cooperation in areas such as energy, aviation, and space".

"We have elevated the level of strategic interaction between our two countries, most notably through the annual 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue that pairs the Secretaries of State and Defense with their Indian counterparts.

"The first 2+2 was held in September 2018 and culminated in the announcement of a new tri-service exercise and the signing of a secure communications agreement that will enable India to operationalize its status as a Major Defense Partner," it said.

We anticipate holding the next 2+2 in late 2019 in Washington, it further added.

Mike Pompeo will also interact with Indian and US businesses at a round table meet and deliver a policy speech at the India International Centre in Delhi this evening.

The United States granted India Strategic Trade Authorization tier 1 status last year, allowing India to enjoy the same licence-free access to certain defence articles as NATO allies, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. This status also creates greater supply chain efficiency and supports US industry and investment.

Secretary Pompeo's visit marks the third visit to India by a Secretary of State during the Trump Administration.

The United States is India's most important trading partner. As India's number one overseas market, the United States purchases close to one-fifth of India's exports. India is also the fastest growing major market for US goods, the statement said.

Two-way bilateral goods and services trade with India totaled $142 billion in 2018, up 12.6 per cent, or almost $16 billion, over the prior year.

US defence sales to India are estimated to reach approximately $18 billion by 2019 from near zero in 2008, boosting India's national security capabilities and increasing employment in both countries.

US companies see great opportunity in India, and increased economic openness and investment will yield mutual benefit. The Trump Administration is working to ensure that American companies operating in India have the same level playing field that Indian companies enjoy in the US, the statement said. Jaishankar is scheduled to accompany the Prime Minister for the G-20 summit, just like Pompeo will join Trump in Japan. This is a departure from the past, as then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj did not accompany the PM on his overseas visits. Both Jaishankar and Pompeo are likely to be present at the Modi-Trump meeting.