US President Donald Trump has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s negotiation skills, calling him a ‘’ a much tougher negotiator’’ and stating that ‘’there is not even a contest.’’ Trump’s comments highlight the growing diplomatic and economic cooperation between India and the United States.
One of the most major announcements made during the press conference was on the commitment to the India -Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which Trump termed it as ”one of the most greatest trade routes in all of history.’’ The corridor has been built to boost connectivity between India, Europe and the Middle East, making trade relations stronger and enhancing infrastructure investments.
Trump further shared details on the project, that the corridor will span from India to Israel, Italy and to the United States. The corridor will be equipped with a railway network, modern transport systems and undersea cables. ‘’It’s a big development, a lot of money will be spent and we are committed to ensure its success, ’’ Trump said, as reported by ANI.
In G20 Summit in India 2023, the IMEC project was finalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed by India, France, Germany, US, UAE, European Union, Italy, Saudi Arabia and France. The initiative objective is to boost global trade and lessen the dependency on traditional supply chains.
India-US Partnership
In another major declaration, Trump unveiled plans to boost US military sales to India, stating that defence deals worth billions of dollars will be implemented. Under this provision, F-35 Stealth fighter jets will be supplied to India. These deals showcase a deepening of defense cooperation between the two nations.
The importance of Quad partnership which includes the US, Japan, India and Australia, Trump emphasised its part in ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. ‘’Prime Minister Modi and I declare our strong commitment to the Quad for maintaining peace, prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific,’’ the US President added.
Trump also announced that the US will increase its oil and natural gas exports to India, with a goal to become the country’s main energy supplier. Moreover, he also welcomed India’s regulatory reforms in the nuclear sector, by allowing US nuclear technology to enter the Indian market.
(With inputs from ANI)