Donald Trump visit aims to build on India-US strategic interests, shared values: White House

WASHINGTON : US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are visiting India with an aim to build upon the strategic interests that Washington shares with New Delhi, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said on Sunday.

"We are wheels up for India, where Donald Trump and Flotus (First lady Melania Trump) have a full agenda building upon our many shared values and strategic/economic interests. Looking forward to a trip meant to further demonstrate the strong and enduring ties between our two countries! Namaste Trump," Grisham wrote on Twitter.

In a pre-departure statement, Trump had Sunday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi his "friend" and said that he looks forward to being with "millions and millions" of people during his 36-hour three-city visit of India beginning Monday.



"I look forward to being with the people of India. We will be with millions and millions of people. I get along very well with the Prime Minister. He is a friend of mine. Prime Minister Modi told me this will be the biggest event they have ever had," Trump told reporters before embarking on his visit to India.

The US President and First Lady Melania Trump departed for their maiden two-day visit to India from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Sunday.

The visiting dignitaries will have a stopover at Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany and will reach Ahmedabad on Monday.

The US President, along with his family and a ministerial delegation will be in India for around 36 hours. During the visit, he is scheduled to participate in a roadshow with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and address a gathering at the Motera Stadium.

From Ahmedabad, the US President and the First Lady will make a brief stop at Agra where they will visit the Taj Mahal at around 5:15 pm, before departing for the national capital later in the day for the main leg of the trip.

On the morning of February 25, the US President will first receive a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan at 10 am as per the protocol. From there, he will go to the Rajghat to pay homage at the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.

This will be followed by both, restricted, and delegation-level talks between Trump and Modi at the Hyderabad House in the national capital on Tuesday afternoon.

The talks would be followed by the exchange of agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries.