Closer defence ties top agenda for PM's US visit

New Delhi: A “Defence Industrial Production Roadmap” that both India and the United States have been discussing for some time, which includes the co-development and co-production of defence platforms, will “hopefully” be one of the “key outcomes” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s forthcoming state visit to the US this week, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Monday at a special MEA media briefing, adding the two nations are “determined to move towards new domains in their strategic partnership” amid “deep and widespread positive interest” in their bilateral ties.

Modi will visit the US from June 21 to 23, after which he will embark on a two-day visit to Egypt on June 24 and 25, which will also see him visiting the famous and historic 11th century Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo that was renovated by the Bohra community there. This will be his first visit to Egypt as PM.

Asked about the plans of some pro-Khalistan elements in the US who hope to stage protests there during Modi’s visit in the backdrop of recent attacks on Hindu temples and Indian diplomatic missions there, the foreign secretary said India had already taken up these issues in countries where such incidents have occurred, but added the “larger nature of challenges that underwrites such manifestations” are expected to come up for discussions between Modi and US President Joe Biden and will be “top-most in the minds of the leaders”.

Asked about security concerns due to protests planned by some anti-India elements, the foreign secretary said such aspects are always handled by the security agencies and that he would not comment on that issue. Issues of bilateral ties including “new domains” of technological cooperation between the two nations as well as regional and global issues such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict are also expected to be discussed between the two leaders.

Asked about defence cooperation and the deals that could be announced during Modi’s visit, Kwatra said defence cooperation between the two nations is “robust and dynamic” and that the partnership should not be seen through the prism of any one defence platform. Mentioning the Defence Industrial Production Roadmap, the foreign secretary spoke about how defence industrial ecosystems in both nations and supply chains can interface with each other and how countries can increase cooperation. It may be noted that there is immense speculation that an announcement is likely during the visit regarding possible acquisition by India of 30 MQ-9B Predator armed drones from the US at a cost of over $3 billion, though there is officially no word on this yet.

Modi will leave for the United States on June 20 and will begin the visit on the morning of June 21 in New York where he will “will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations Headquarters”. He will also meet some “prominent” persons there. Later the same day, the PM will fly to Washington to begin the bilateral part of the visit. He will attend a “skilling event” the same day in Washington that is expected to be followed in the evening by a “private engagement” between Modi and President Biden. As per earlier media reports from the US, this is expected to be an “intimate private dinner” hosted by President Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden for Modi.

On the morning of June 22, Modi will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the White House, following which there will be detailed bilateral talks between Modi and President Biden along with their respective delegations. After that, Modi will address a joint sitting of the US Congress and will become one of the few world leaders to have addressed the US Congress more than once. That evening, the US President and First Lady will host Modi at a ceremonial state dinner.

On June 23, Modi will interact with select CEOs, followed by a lunch hosted by US vice-president Kamala Harris and secretary of state Antony Blinken. After that, Modi will have an interaction at the Kennedy Centre with prominent personalities, including business leaders, young entrepreneurs and young Indian-American leaders, followed by an interaction at the Reagan Centre later with members of the Indian diaspora and community. This will bring to a close the three-day visit to the US.

On June 24, Modi will travel to Egypt’s capital Cairo to begin his first-ever visit to the Arab/North African nation. He will hold interactions with the “India Unit” there that had been established by the Egyptian leadership in March this year. Apart from later meeting prominent persons, he will visit the historic 11th century Al-Hakim Mosque that had been renovated by the Bohra community. Mr Modi will also pay his respects at a war graves cemetery in Cairo. On June 25, Modi will hold detailed bilateral talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi who had visited India in January this year and was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations on January 26.