PM Modi likely to visit US for G20 summit in December? What we know, what to expect | Today’s news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to the United States in December to attend the G20 leaders’ summit in Florida, India Today reported on Wednesday.
The summit is scheduled for December 14 and 15 at the Trump National Doral Miami resort, where US President Donald Trump will host the leaders of major world economies.
The Indian government has not yet made a formal statement about Modi’s possible visit.
PM Modi-Donald Trump likely to meet on sidelines of G20
If Modi travels to Florida, he is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the G20 summit, the report said.
Earlier this year, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor hinted that Modi would be among the leaders Trump wanted to meet at the G20.
The possible meeting comes at a sensitive time for Indo-US relations, especially when it comes to trade and India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
The US is considering further measures against countries that buy Russian oil.
A recent Reuters report said the US sanctions bill proposes tariffs of up to 100% on countries that continue to make significant purchases of Russian oil, with India among those affected.
Business negotiations remain a key topic
Trade is expected to be one of the important issues in the discussions between India and the US. The two countries are negotiating a broader trade agreement while cooperating in areas such as defense, technology, energy and critical minerals.
The December meeting could therefore provide an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss the state of bilateral trade and broader strategic ties, according to media reports.
The G20 meeting could also provide an opportunity for leaders of the Quad — India, the US, Japan and Australia — to meet.
PM Modi to visit Canada, says Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney
Modi’s possible visit to the US could be followed by a trip to Canada around the time of the G20 summit, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday.
On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Carney said India and Canada were making “good progress” in trade talks and wanted a deal by the end of the year, news agencies reported.
Notably, the two countries are negotiating a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, with the next round of talks set to begin soon.
