Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be having a bilateral meeting with US President Barack Obama on June 7 in Washington, probably for the last time before American enters the phase of Presidential elections.
“President Obama will meet with Prime Minister Modi of India at the White House on Tuesday, June 7. The visit will highlight the deepening of the US-India relationship in key areas since the President’s visit to New Delhi in January 2015. The President looks forward to discussing progress made on our climate change and clean energy partnership, security and defence cooperation, and economic growth priorities,” according to a statement made by the White House Friday.
Modi had last visited US in September 2015 following Obama’s trip to India as the Chief Guest of Republic Day celebrations.
Defence logistics pact
However, this time the most important outcome of the Prime Minister’s visit is likely to be signing of the defence logistics pact, known as the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).
The LEMOA, which is known as Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) in US, will enable the military of both countries to use each other’s military bases, naval warships and fighter jets.
The draft agreement was given in-principle nod on April 12, during the visit of US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter to India.
This was also discussed during the India-US Maritime Security Dialogue that took place here for the first time on May 16, sources told BusinessLine.
“The main objective of the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister would be to consolidate the progress made in diverse areas such as economy, energy, environment, defence and security, and to intensify cooperation for the future,” said the Ministry of External Affairs in a press release.
PM has also been invited by the Speaker of the US House of Representative Paul Ryan, to address a joint meeting of the US Congress.
He will also be having an interaction with CEOs of major US companies under the aegis of the US-India Business Council.