In the aftermath of a spectacular welcome worthy of a maharaja, the visit of American President Donald Trump to India amounts to a more subdued diplomacy with bilateral talks on Tuesday in New Delhi, with no big trade agreement expected.
Read also: Trump and Modi display their partnership against China
Economy, energy and security cooperation are on the agenda for discussions between Donald Trump and Narendra Modi in Delhi. India represents a strategic ally for the United States in Asia, which sees in it a potential counterweight to the rise of China in the region.
Donald Trump reviews the guard of honor at an official reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace in New Delhi, Tuesday, February 25. MANDEL NGAN / AFP
India and the United States have been fighting for several months over their trade in goods and services, hitting their respective products with customs taxes. This dispute is much smaller than the trade war with China, but nevertheless generates interference on the New Delhi-Washington line.
Read also: India rolls out the red carpet for Donald Trump
Donald Trump is annoyed by his country's trade deficit with India and judges that American companies do not have sufficient access to the internal market of the country of 1.3 billion inhabitants, strongly protectionist. In 2018, trade between the two nations amounted to almost $ 145 billion, to the disadvantage of $ 25 billion for the Americans.
The contradiction of "Make in India" Prime Minister Narendra Modi and "America First" President Donald Trump are no major trade agreement should be concluded state during the two-day visit magnate real estate.
In front of the press on Monday, Donald Trump said he was "in no hurry " to reach a signature on this file. The two parties could announce a more modest partial agreement. The two leaders, who carefully stage their personal chemistry, will sign the contract for the purchase by New Delhi of American military helicopters for an amount of more than 2 billion dollars.
" Happiness lesson "
First lady Melania Trump meanwhile goes to a school in the Indian capital to attend a " happiness lesson ", where children meditate to become better students and citizens.
The first day of the American president in India, who had not yet made an official trip to the South Asian nation since he came to power in 2017, gave rise to a grand and colorful reception on Monday from the Indian authorities.
Donald Trump throwing flower petals in front of Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, Tuesday, February 25. MANDEL NGAN / AFP
Giant meeting in a cricket stadium, visit to Gandhi's ashram, sunset at the Taj Mahal: New Delhi has released the red carpet for the impetuous Republican billionaire, charmed by this " phenomenal welcome " in his own words. Donald Trump and Narendra Modi gave a joint meeting in front of more than 100,000 people, gathered under a blazing sun in a stadium in Ahmedabad (Gujarat, west).
“ Relations between India and the United States are no longer just one partnership among many. It's a much deeper and bigger relationship, ”Narendra Modi said to a crowd of“ Namaste Trump ”(“ Hello Trump ”in Hindi) white caps, with Indian and American flags printed on the visor.
“ America loves India. America respects India, and America will always be a loyal and loyal friend of the Indian people , "said Donald Trump, praising the cultural diversity of the South Asian giant, its Bollywood cinema and its players. cricket.
