US will remain a loyal friend of India: Trump
   Date :25-Feb-2020
US will remain a loyal fr
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet the
people assembled at the Motera Stadium during the ‘Namaste Trump’ event in Ahmedabad on Monday.
 
 
Trump called Prime Minister Modi an “exceptional leader” who works day and night for the country. He also observed that Modi is a “tough negotiator” The US President announced defence deals worth $3 billion and that the US will become India’s premier defence partner Trump said, “India and the US are committed to fight terrorists and defend people from radical Islamic terrorism”
 
 
AHMEDABAD :
 
INDIA and the US are committed to defend their people from radical Islamic terrorism, resolved to significantly expand defence ties and are working on a “fantastic” trade deal, said US President Donald Trump on Monday while asserting that his country “loves” and is “loyal” to India. Addressing a huge crowd at ‘Namaste Trump’ event at the Motera stadium here, the US President, accompanied by his wife Melania and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, talked about India’s great tradition of embracing individual freedom, rule of law, dignity of every human being and where people worship side-by-side in harmony.
 

Trump_1  H x W:
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes US President Donald Trump on his arrival at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Monday. (PTI)
 
 
On his maiden visit, Trump, who was welcomed by Modi on his arrival here, said his country will remain a “loyal” friend of India and called the Prime Minister an “exceptional leader” who works day and night for the country. “India and the US are committed to fight terrorists and their ideology; that is why my Government is working with Pakistan to crack down on terror groups,” Trump said in the presence of his family --daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner-- and top brass of his administration. “The US will always be faithful and loyal friend of India.
 

trump roadshow_1 &nb People wave as the US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday. (ANI)
 
 
 
Thank you for the spectacular welcome,” he added. He also announced that the two countries will firm up defence deals worth USD 3 billion on Tuesday and that the US will become India’s premier defence partner. “India and US have natural and enduring friendship,” Trump said to a cheering crowd. “We are quickly revitalising our alliances all around world,” he said. Trump said both countries are working on a “fantastic trade” deal, and observed that Modi is a “tough negotiator”. The US President also heaped praises on Modi, saying the Prime Minister is a “living proof” of what an Indian can achieve with hard work as Trump referred to his humble background as a tea-seller, who had a landslide win in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
 
On his part, Modi welcomed Trump to “world’s largest democracy” and said a “new history” was being created. Modi also praised Trump’s leadership in containing terrorism. Trump said as the world’s largest economy, India gives hope to all humanity and has become an economic giant. “There is a difference between a nation that rises by coercion and one that rises by setting its people free -- that is India. India and the US have natural and enduring friendship,” he said.
 
He also touched on India’s cultural diversity and riches as he highlighted the success of its blockbuster movies like DDLJ (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge) and Sholay, and its sporting icons like Sachin Tedulkar and Virat Kohli. He highlighted the boom in the US economy under his presidency and added that India will soon be home to the biggest middle class as it will eliminate extreme poverty in next 10 years. India, US to sign deals worth USD 3 billion for military helicopters, says Trump: US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that his country will sign deals worth USD 3 billion for supplying helicopters to the Indian military. Addressing the ‘Namaste Trump’ event at Motera stadium here, he said that the US looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on the planet. He said that the deal will be signed on Tuesday.
 
“I am pleased to announce that tomorrow our representatives will sign deals to sell over USD 3 Billion, in the absolute finest state of the art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian armed forces,” Trump said. “As we continue to build our defence cooperation, the US looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on the planet. We make the greatest weapons ever made. We make the best and we are dealing now with India. But this includes advanced air defence systems and armed and unarmed aerial vehicles,” he added. Referring to the tri-service exercise between the two countries held last year, Trump said, “Just months ago, this critical partnership took a major step forward when the US Military and your brave Indian Armed Forces conducted the first-ever air, land and sea military exercise between our two countries. It was something to behold. We called it Tiger-Triumph.” “Together we will defend our sovereignty, security and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific region for our children and for the many-many generation to come,” said the US President.
 
ANI had earlier reported that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Wednesday gave its nod to the acquisition of 24 US-made MH-60 Romeo multi-role helicopters worth around USD 2.5 billion for the Indian Navy. The helicopters are designed for hunting submarines as well as knocking out ships and conducting search-and-rescue operations at sea. The Lockheed Martin-built helicopters would replace India’s ageing fleet of British-made Sea King helicopters. It was reported that India and US would make an announcement regarding the MH-60 Romeo choppers and the six Apache attack helicopters for the Army during the visit of American President. The MH-60 Romeo choppers are being acquired by the Navy after several failed attempts to replace their Sea King fleet.
 
New chapter in historic Indo-US ties: Modi
 
AHMEDABAD : PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed US President Donald Trump’s visit to India as a “new chapter” in the historic Indo-US relations, adding their ties is no longer just another partnership but a far greater and closer relationship. Welcoming the President at the ‘Namaste Trump’ event at the new-look Motera stadium shortly after his arrival on the first leg of his two-day trip, Modi said a “new history” is being created and asserted that foundations of new alignments, challenges, opportunities and changes are being laid.
 
“India and the US relations and cooperation will play an important role in deciding the course of world in the 21st century. I am of the categorical view that India and the US are natural partners,” he told an estimated one lakh-strong audience who broke into cheers frequently. Underscoring the strong ties between the two nations, Modi said the US is now India’s largest trading partner and the Indian military is involved in its biggest war exercise with the US. Trump’s visit to India at the turn of the new decade is a big opportunity, he said. The Indo-US ties are no longer just another partnership but have touched far greater heights, and the Trump’s trip with his family shows this, Modi said. “Welcome to world’s biggest democracy,” the Prime Minister said. Modi said President Trump’s visit is a new chapter in the relations between India and America.
 
“A chapter that will become a new document of progress and prosperity of the people of America and India,” he added. There is so much that the two countries share, Modi said. He said the two countries also share spirit of enterprise and innovation, shared opportunities and challenges and shared hopes and aspirations. Modi also appreciated Trump administration’s efforts in the field of health. The biggest strength between two people or nations is trust, Modi said while quoting an old adage that “friendship is where trust is unshakable”. In the last few years, trust between the US and India has strengthened further and has reached historic levels.
 
“What you have done for healthy and happy America is getting good results. What you are doing for children in society is admirable,” Modi said. Modi said today 130 crore Indians are jointly building a ‘new India’. “Our youth power is full of aspirations. Setting big goals, achieving them is becoming the hallmark of new India today,” he said. Modi noted that India not only has a the world record of sending the maximum number of satellites simultaneously, but also is making the world record by doing the fastest financial inclusion. “Today the country with which India has the most extensive research and development partnership is America,” he said.