Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: A comprehensive roadmap for defense industrial cooperation is likely to be the major outcome of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first State Visit to the United States beginning June 21, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said on Monday.
All aspects of defense co-production and co-development will be part of the discussions between PM Modi and US President Joe Biden, he told a news conference.
“One of the key components to be prominently showcased will be bilateral defense cooperation.”
“The second major component of bilateral talks has been strong trade and investment partnerships. The third is the technology component which interfaces with many other domains such as telecommunications, space, manufacturing, and investment,” Kwatra said.
PM Modi will visit the US from June 21 to 23 and Egypt on June 24 and 25.
His forthcoming visit to the US will commence in New York, where he will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the headquarters of the United Nations on June 21.
From New York, he will reach Washington where he will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22. He will meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a state dinner in honor of PM Modi the same evening.
The PM will address a joint sitting of the US Congress on June 22, and the next day, June 23, he will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Besides these official engagements, PM Modi will also have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders.
In Egypt, he will pay a visit to the al-Hakimi mosque, which was renovated and restored by India’s Bohra community.
PM Modi’s first visit to Egypt is at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi who was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations this year.