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In the first high-level engagement between India and the US after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s return to power for a second term, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo will arrive in New Delhi on Tuesday night, as part of his three-day visit to India.
The two sides will hold high-level engagements on matters of mutual interest including bilateral, regional and global issues.
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.
Pompeo is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. Jaishankar will also host a lunch for his US counterpart.
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.
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.
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.
