Modi, Trump will meet next month
KEY ISSUES Improved connectivity in Asia Pacific region, Chinese activities in South China Sea set to be discussed
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet US President Donald Trump ahead of the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Manila next month to review key aspects of the bilateral relations between the two countries including the initiative to improve connectivity in the Asia Pacific that US secretary of state Rex Tillerson discussed on his recent visit to India.
Indian and US diplomatic sources told Hindustan Times that while the date and timing of the “short meeting” were still to be decided, the two leaders would definitely meet for the second time this year. Modi leaves for Manila on November 12 and returns on November 14.
Trump is in Manila on November 12 and 13, but returns to Washington before the EAS on November 14.
People familiar with the matter said one key focus of the Modi-Trump meeting will be the Indo-Pacific region and the impact of China’s ambitions and activities in the South China Sea. It could include exploring synergies between the navies of the two countries, they added.
NEWDELHI: An Italian Prime Minister is set to arrive in India on Sunday after a gap of 10 years — nearly four of which saw a strain in India-Italy ties over two Italian marines killing Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala in 2012. “The visit is aimed at strengthening the bilateral political and economic relations between the two countries,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said about Italian Prime Minister, Paolo Gentiloni’s visit to India.
The strain in India-Italy ties had spillover effect on Delhi’s relationship with European Union, country’s largest trading bloc. The last visit of an Italian Prime Minister to India was in February 2007.
Gentiloni will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the capital on Monday.
Diplomatic ties took a hit after two Italian marines, Latorre Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone were arrested on charges of killing two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala in 2012.
Italy claimed the ship they were on when they committed the crime, Enrica Lexie, was in international waters and that only the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea should apply, questioning the Indian government’s jurisdiction over the case. Rome also said the marines, who were on official duty, enjoyed diplomatic impunity. India argued against all these positions.
While Latorre returned to Italy in September 2014 following an order of the Supreme Court issued on health grounds, Girone was allowed to go in May 2016. They are now in Italy, pending the verdict by the arbitration court at the Hague.