Trump-Modi Meet Soon? US Official Signals 'Lot Coming Up' On US-India Relationship

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump share a "very positive relationship" despite "turbulence" in the bilateral relationship between India and the US, a senior State Department official said. He added that a meeting between PM Modi and President Trump will take place in due course. Talks are also ongoing to set a date for the next Quad Leaders summit, either later this year or early next year."I'm sure you'll see the two (Modi and Trump) meet. They have a very, very positive relationship. We've got Quad Summit and we're working on planning. At some point, that will happen, if not this year, then next year. We're working on the dates for that. So there's a lot coming up on the US-India relationship, and I think we'll see some continuous

positive momentum," the official said.In a major statement, the official confirmed that talks between India and America on New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil were proceeding positively, with a resolution expected in the coming weeks, Hindustan Times reported. The official also added that the Trump administration does not intend to mediate on the Kashmir issue."It is our longstanding policy that this is a direct issue between India and Pakistan and the President, as he is doing with every issue, stands ready if we are asked to offer our good offices. But he has enough crises on his hands. This is between India and Pakistan to solve," the official added.The move marks a shift in US tone on the Kashmir dispute, which Trump offered to mediate in May this year after the close of hostilities between the two nations.India Expects to Increase Energy Trade with US Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who is leading a delegation for meetings in New York, has also hinted at positive development in India-US trade talks."Clearly, the world recognizes that (energy security) is one area where we all have to work together. India is a big player in the energy field... we are big importers of energy from across the world, including from the US," Goyal said on Tuesday.Goyal delivered the keynote address at an event, 'Energy Security in a Shifting Global Landscape: Building Resilient Energy Markets Across Borders' hosted by the Consulate General of India in New York, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), and India's leading decarbonisation solutions provider, ReNew."We expect to increase our trade with the US on energy products in the years to come. And being close friends, natural partners, our energy security goals will have a very high element of US involvement, which will ensure price stability, diversified sources of energy for India and help us unlock limitless possibilities with the US on various fronts, energy and beyond,” he said.Goyal is leading a delegation for meetings in New York with the US side to achieve an early conclusion of a bilateral trade agreement.