Obama’s Delhi visit: India, US to bolster counter-terror cooperation, says Kerry

India and the US are firming up an ambitious agenda for the forthcoming visit of President Barack Obama to New Delhi, with Secretary of State John Kerry flagging off key areas, including economic ties, the India-US nuclear deal and counter-terrorism, which are expected to see “a forward movement” during the presidential visit.

In his discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Kerry conveyed that President Obama is excited to be in India as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations and underlined that the US is working with India to bolster the joint battle against terrorism.

“Obama is really happy to be the first US President to be visiting India twice,” Mr Kerry said. “During my discussion with PM Modi and other officials, we reviewed the progress of our economic relationship and how to take it ahead,” he said at the ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ summit in Gandhinagar.

“The US investment in India have risen from $2.4 billion to $28 billion,” Mr Kerry said.

Mr Kerry identified climate change, bolstering defence partnership and energy collaboration as key priority areas in the India-US relations.

“The US will work towards PM Narendra Modi vision to supplying 24/7 electricity to India,” he said. “We are committed to work with India to reach a landmark climate change agreement in Paris at the end of this year,” he underlined.

“The goal is to have very concrete and tangible things that we can show forward movement on when President Obama and Prime Minister Modi meet, including on climate change,” a senior State Department official told reporters.

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