In the cauldron of a brand new cricket stadium, Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a giant meeting on Monday in front of more than 100,000 people, the culmination of a first day of great spectacle for the president’s visit American in India.
The two leaders, who emphasize their personal chemistry in a context of trade tensions, praised the ties between India and the United States. Under an overwhelming sun at its zenith, they shared the platform of the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad (Gujarat, west), for a meeting entitled “Namaste Trump” (“Hello Trump” in Hindi).
“Relations between India and the United States are no longer just a partnership among others. It is a much deeper and greater relationship,” Narendra Modi told a crowd wearing white caps “Namaste Trump “, with Indian and American flags printed on the visor.
The Republican President welcomed the “phenomenal welcome” received for this first official trip to India.
“America loves India. America respects India, and America will always be a loyal and loyal friend of the Indian people,” said Donald Trump, praising the country’s 1.3 billion cultural diversity. inhabitants, its Bollywood cinema and its cricketers.
He then watched the sunset in front of the Taj Mahal of Agra. A masterpiece of Indo-Persian architecture, the sumptuous white marble mausoleum was emptied for the occasion of its crowds of tourists and pilferers.
“It’s incredible, really incredible,” said Donald Trump, hand in hand with his wife Melania, in front of the monument built in the 17th century by the emperor Shah Jahan for his late wife.
The American president was expected on the last day of his state visit to New Delhi, where Indian and American officials will discuss the substance of the matter on Tuesday. A few hours before his arrival, clashes broke out between supporters and opponents of a controversial citizenship law. At least four people were killed, including a police officer.
The “Namaste Trump” meeting was the return of favor of Narendra Modi to the American president for a similar large meeting, “Howdy Modi”, organized in Houston (Texas) last September.
“No hurry” trade agreement
The terraces of the Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad, where queues had formed at four in the morning, were full when the two leaders arrived. However, in the heat, almost half of the assembly left the stadium before the end of Donald Trump’s speech.
“We really liked that (Donald Trump) praised India and talked about the importance of the ties between India and the United States,” engineering student Harsh Kumar told AFP. 18 years old. “He has talked about crucial issues like trade, and young people like we hope he will solve problems on topics like visas and innovation.”
“We left halfway through Trump’s speech. It was too hot. The people in front of us also left,” regretted his comrade Manav Patel.
Monday morning, Donald Trump went to Gandhi’s ashram, a native like Narendra Modi from Gujarat. His armored limousine followed a journey of several kilometers in the streets of Ahmedabad, decorated with huge effigies and posters welcoming him.
Thousands of Indians greeted him on the route, without reaching the “millions” of people mentioned by Mr. Trump before his trip.
This trip should not be the occasion for major announcements. The two nations have been engaged in a trade showdown since last year, but due to the lack of common ground to date, no major trade deal is expected to be reached.
Asked by the press about this agreement during the Air Force One flight between Ahmedabad and Agra, the American president said he was “in no hurry” to reach a signature.
Washington is irritated by the historic protectionism of the South Asian giant and judges that American companies do not have sufficient access to its internal market. India, however, represents a strategic ally for the United States in Asia, which sees in it a potential counterweight to the rise of China in the region.
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