The White House in the USA on Tuesday confirmed that President Donald Trump will make his first official visit to India on February 24-25. The administration stated that he will be accompanied by the First Lady Melania Trump and will visit Delhi and Gujarat.
The trip – Trump’s first foreign visit since his impeachment acquittal by the US Senate – will strengthen the US-India strategic partnership, stated the White House.
Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are also expected to finalise a new trade deal, as US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will also be part of the delegation. India has reportedly sought a restoration of preferential trade status under the Generalised System of Preference (GSP), which was terminated by the Trump administration last year.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had earlier told the media that Trump would visit the Sabarmati Riverfront in Gujarat during his India visit, following in the footsteps of Japan and Israel prime ministers Shinzo Abe and Benjamin Netanyahu, who have also seen the riverfront during their trips.
Trump's visit will be the first by a sitting US President since Barack Obama had travelled to India in 2015.