US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday welcomed the start of preparatory work on six nuclear reactors in India, a key step in closing the first deal stemming from a US-India civil nuclear accord struck over a decade ago.
For Modi, Tuesday’s visit was a time to set the seal on what has been achieved and set the stage for what he hopes will be a mushrooming in US-India trade from $120 billion to $500 billion.
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For Obama, who will step down from office in January, it was a matter of his legacy -- friendship with India and inroads into its huge market are a victory for his so-called “pivot to Asia.”
{{/usCountry}}For Obama, who will step down from office in January, it was a matter of his legacy -- friendship with India and inroads into its huge market are a victory for his so-called “pivot to Asia.”
{{/usCountry}}Relations between the countries are not always easy -- India insists on staying out of formal alliances and forging its own course -- but both leaders can boast that ties have improved.
Modi was scheduled to meet with US business leaders and members of the three million strong Indian-American community after meeting Obama.
Officials played down the chances of major announcements during the visit, but noted that India is very close to a deal with US electric giant Westinghouse to build a nuclear plant.
Another potential arena for greater cooperation is in the military and security arena.
India has made the United States its main arms supplier -- spending $14 billion over the past five years -- but also spends heavily with French, Israeli and Russian suppliers.
The two countries are negotiating a Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), although it is not clear whether a final draft will be ready for Modi to sign on his visit.
This arrangement, long-sought by Washington, will allow the two militaries to seek supplies and spare parts from each other’s bases.
Singh did not say whether agreement was imminent -- India also wants deals to acquire advanced US arms technology -- but noted that Indian and US troops now train together regularly.
With inputs from agencies