PM Modi, US Prez Trump to hold extensive talks in New Delhi today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump will hold extensive talks in New Delhi today. The two leaders are likely to discuss a wide variety of bilateral and regional issues including trade and investment, defence and security, counter-terrorism, energy security and situation in the Indo-Pacific.

The two nations, India and the US, are set to sign bilateral agreements mostly in the defence and energy sectors.

Earlier in his address at a massive Namaste Trump rally at Motera stadium in Ahmedabad yesterday, US president announced that deals to sell state-of-the-art military helicopters and other equipment worth over 3 billion dollars will be signed on February 25, 2020. He strongly pitched for becoming India's premier defence partner by providing it with the most advanced weapon system feared across the globe.

Mr Trump and the First Lady will begin their day today with a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the morning. From there, they will go to Rajghat to pay homage at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi. This will be followed by the talks between PM Modi and President Trump at Hyderabad House.

Later in the day, Prime Minister Modi will host a lunch for the US president following the talks.

In the evening, Trump will meet President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. A banquet will be hosted by President Kovind.

Trump, during his first visit to India as the US President, is accompanied by his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top brass of his administration. They arrived Ahmedabad yesterday on a two-day visit to India. He along with other visiting dignitaries was received by Prime Minister Modi at the airport.

Post which, President Trump, in Ahmedabad, attended a 22-km-long roadshow, and paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram. Later, he addressed the mega gathering with Prime Minister Modi at Motera Stadium.

From Ahmedabad, the US president travelled to Agra to have a glimpse of Taj Mahal. The Trump family spent about an hour at Taj Mahal before sunset. They arrived in Delhi from Agra at around 7:30 PM.