Donald Trump and PM Modi set to take India-US ties to new heights: White House

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to take IndiaUS relations to new highs the White House said as the two leaders prepared for bilateral talks in France with trade technology investment and global security expected to top the agendaPresident Trump and Prime Minister Modi have a close friendship and under their leadership the Trump administration and Indian government are set to take our two countries to new highs White House spokesman Kush Desai told IANSThe meeting in Evian on the sidelines of the G7 Summit will be the first inperson meeting between the two leaders since their summit meeting last February It comes amid discussions on a possible trade agreement and as diplomatic efforts continue to address the crisis in West AsiaThe White House said Trump and PM Modi will meet on the sideline sof the G7 Summit According to the White House the two leaders will discuss economic growth supply chains artificial intelligence investment partnerships and a range of global security challengesPresident Trump has consistently underscored his support for Americas strategic partnership with India Desai told IANS adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubios recent visit to India built on Trumps efforts to deepen cooperation between the two countries on trade and national securitySecretary Rubios landmark visit to India built on the Presidents push to expand bilateral ties and cooperation on trade and national security including with the signing of a historic MOU on critical minerals he said Experts say both sides are looking for tangible outcomes as well as strong political messagingAparna Pande a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute said expectations are high for the meeting PM Modi and President Trumprsquos inperson meeting will be their first since last Februaryrsquos summit meeting Pande told IANSBoth sides have high expectations from this meeting which comes in the backdrop of a possible resolution of the West Asia crisis and amidst discussions over the trade deal Pande said symbolism and substance would both matter The optics of the meeting will be critical as well as the substantive part she saidBoth leaders would like to demonstrate that ties between the two democracies remain strong despite the headwinds and that they would be keen to announce some defense and technology related agreements Atman Trivedi Partner at Albright Stonebridge Group North America described the meeting as an opportunity to improve momentum in bilateral tiesThe leaders meeting represents the latest best opportunity to reset ties Trivedi told IANS Their conversation comes after the deaths of Indian sailors in the Gulf of Oman dealt a blow to hopes for reviving bilateral relations Trivedi cautioned against expecting major breakthroughsExpectations should be modest and centered around Trump and Modi reaffirming the importance of each other to longstanding shared interests in energy defense and technology cooperation he said A positive statement recognizing the significance of an interim trade agreement and urging negotiators to reach a deal in the next month or two should also be achievableEarlier on Tuesday Trump and Modi exchanged greetings on the sidelines of a G7 outreach session on Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity The two leaders shook hands and held a brief conversation before joining discussions attended by G7 countries partner nations the World Bank and the African Development Bank Upon arriving in Evian Modi said he looked forward to engaging with world leaders on major global issuesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever