Hillary Clinton to visit India in July

The new government will have a high-level visitor in July. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, South Block sources said, will be landing in July to meet new External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The new government will have a high-level visitor in July. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, South Block sources said, will be landing in July to meet new External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

HT Image

Though Clinton has already made a trip to Asia after taking over, India was not on the agenda. This, perhaps, was due to the uncertainty of what kind of government would take over in Delhi.

With the UPA storming back to power, the United States can expect continuity-with-acceleration inIndian policy towards Washington. As is well known, the PM is a votary of better relations with the US — exemplified by his push for the nuclear deal.

US President Barack Obama’s special Af-Pak envoy Richard Holbrooke has already made two trips to India and a third is expected soon. The Obama administration, clearly, sees India as a partner in efforts to stabilise the Af-Pak region.

Clinton will not be the only high-level visitor making a beeline for Delhi after the new government takes over. In June, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse is likely to be in Delhi, fresh after his victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).