Civil nuke deal, not H-1B visa, will set Modi-Trump agenda
The civil nuclear deal, and not the H1B visa problem, would be part of the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump, the White House has said, emphasising that the US was looking forward to its nuclear reactors contributing to India’s energy security.
“In terms of the actual deals, the US is still looking forward to US-built nuclear reactors contributing to India’s energy security. We think that this civil nuclear partnership will bolster India’s energy security, create jobs and trade opportunities for the American people. So we’re still very much interested in seeing this deal move forward,” a senior administration official told reporters ahead of PM Modi’s visit to the US next week.
Meanwhile, a senior White House official preparing for PM Modi’s maiden meeting with Trump said that the US President is well aware of India’s economy and strategic potential. He said that Trump has already visited Mumbai, the commercial capital of India, in his capacity as a real estate tycoon.
“As you know, during the campaign he was very much in touch with the Indian-American community. He expressed a very positive feeling toward India. I think he said that if he were to be elected, India would find a true friend in the White House,” said the official.
“He (Trump) is not new to India. He has understood their contribution to the US economy, everything that’s happening in Silicon Valley, for example. Indian Americans have really embraced the innovation and entrepreneurship. So there’s a lot of synergies and linkages between the US and India in this particular realm,” the official said. Noting that Indian-Americans have founded 15% of Silicon Valley startups alone, the official said that as a businessman, India is not new for him (Trump).