Modi holds talks with Trump in Manila

TNN Bureau. Updated: 11/14/2017 12:31:24 AM Front Page



MANILA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held "very expansive" talks with US President Donald Trump during which the two leaders carried out a "broad review" of the strategic landscape in Asia, signalling deeper cooperation by the two countries in dealing with sensitive security issues confronting the region.
The talks between the two leaders came a day after officials of India, the US, Japan and Australia held their first meeting to give shape to the much talked about quadrilateral alliance to keep the Indo-Pacific region "free and open".
It is learnt that China's rising military presence in the South China Sea figured in talks between Modi and Trump apart from a host of other regional and global issues, including terrorism emanating from Pakistan, North Korea's missile tests, situation in Afghanistan and the Gulf region as well as consequence of violence in Myanmar's Rakhaine state.
The White House said the two leaders discussed the comprehensive strategic partnership between the US and India and their shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
In the 45-minute-long meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, Modi told Trump that both nations can rise beyond bilateral ties and work jointly for the future of Asia, adding that India will try to "live up to the expectations" of the US and the world.
Giving details of the deliberations, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said Modi and Trump undertook "a broad review of the strategic landscape in Asia" without further elaboration.
Asked whether the formation of India-Australia-the US- Japan quadrilateral was discussed, Jaishankar said there was a passing mention of it, adding that the meeting of the officials of the four countries was part of diplomacy.
"It was a very expansive discussion," Jaishankar said, adding that Trump also shared his "impression" of his ongoing Asian trip which also took him to Japan and China.
The White House, in a statement said the two leaders pledged to enhance their cooperation as Major Defense Partners and resolved that two of the world's great democracies should also have the world's greatest militaries.
"President Trump expressed appreciation that Indian purchases of oil from the United States have surpassed 10 million barrels in recent months, and expressed confidence that stronger energy cooperation will be a geopolitical and economic game changer for both countries," it said.


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