Foreign Minister Vikram Masri will visit Washington this week to hold meetings with senior US officials to review trade, defense and technology relations, and discuss the ramifications of the conflict in West Asia that has affected countries around the world.
Al-Masri, who will visit Washington from April 8-10, will be the first senior Indian official to travel to the United States since military strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran sparked conflict in West Asia in February. The visit comes on the heels of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Washington in February and is in line with regular high-level exchanges between the two sides, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday.
The visit represents an opportunity “to review the full scope of bilateral relations between India and the United States and to enhance ongoing cooperation in key areas,” the ministry said. She added that Al-Masry will meet with senior officials in the US administration to discuss a range of issues, including trade, defence, science and technology, and regional and global developments.
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The visit comes as the two countries focus on stabilizing relations that came under unprecedented strain last year after US President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian exports, including a 25% fine on India’s purchase of Russian energy. Trump’s repeated assertions about ending the four-day conflict between India and Pakistan last May also affected relations.
In February, Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the two sides were working toward a bilateral trade agreement and US tariffs were reduced, paving the way for the normalization of relations. It is expected that the proposed trade agreement, for which the two sides have reached a framework, will be presented during Al-Masry’s meetings in Washington.
Trump called Modi late last month to discuss the situation in West Asia. Prime Minister Modi conveyed that India supports the restoration of early peace in the region and stressed the need to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and safe for the international community.
The Indian side has focused on ending hostilities as soon as possible and ensuring unhindered flow of energy and other goods, especially through the Strait of Hormuz, given the major implications for the security of food, fuel and fertilizer in the country. Meanwhile, New Delhi has reached out to all major players in West Asia to ensure the security of 10 million Indians living in the region.
