Gates on India visit from Tuesday to boost ties

American Defence Secretary Robert Gates will visit India from Tuesday on a three-day trip to boost defence ties and step-up cooperation on regional security.

The tour of the US top official will reinforce the importance the Obama administration places on bilateral relations with New Delhi. Gates is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Minister of External Affairs S M Krishna and the Defence Minister A K Antony.

"Our objective is to reinforce the importance we place on our bilateral relationship with India as an emerging global power," Major Maureen Schmuann, spokesperson, US department of defence said.

"We will discuss ways to deepen the current and look for new areas of trade and cooperation. We will also discuss regional security issues," Schumann told PTI.

This would be the first visit of Gates to India in two years and also the first by a top member of the Obama administration's Cabinet after the State Visit of Prime Minister Singh to Washington in November, 2009.

Gates had a special meeting with Singh during his US trip, during which the two leaders discussed bilateral relationship and regional issues.

Image: US Defense Secretary Robert Gates

Photograph: Reuters