India’s Prime Minister Modi Invites President and First Lady Trump To Visit in February

Feb. 11, 2020 (EIRNS)—President Donald Trump will make his first state visit to India at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A statement yesterday on the White House website reads:

“President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will visit India on Feb. 24-25, 2020. The President and The First Lady will travel to New Delhi and Ahmedabad, which is in Prime Minister Modi’s home state of Gujarat and played such an important role in Mahatma Gandhi’s life and leadership of the Indian independence movement. During a phone call over the weekend, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi agreed the trip will further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people.”

A tweet from the White House similarly remarked, “The trip will further strengthen the U.S.-India strategic partnership & highlight the strong & enduring bonds between the American & Indian people.”

The Indian External Affairs Ministry announced today that Trump would also visit Gujarat, where Modi had been Chief Minister, and that

“President Trump and the First Lady will attend official engagements in New Delhi and Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and interact with a wide cross-section of Indian society. … The visit will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to review progress in bilateral ties and further strengthen our strategic partnership.”

Trade issues are expected to be on the agenda of talks between the President and Prime Minister.