Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew up to the United States on Monday to discuss foreign policy and a “state to state conversation”. This is Modi’s fourth visit to the United States. Several agreements were signed to boost bilateral ties in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Barack Obama in the White House in Washington DC.
Six new agreements were signed between the two nations. The first agreement was regarding the arrangement between the Multi-Agency Centre/Intelligence Bureau of the Government of India and the Terrorist Screening Center of the Government of the United States of America for the exchange of Terrorist Screening Information. This agreement basically means that India and the US shall provide each other information regarding terrorism screening information through the designated contact points. This arrangement will help with counterterrorism cooperation between India and the US.
More agreements were signed “to enhance cooperation on Energy Security, Clean Energy and Climate Change”, and “to enhance co-operation on Wildlife Conservation and Combating Wildlife Trafficking”. These, basically, deal with sustainable growth, clean energy, climate change, and wildlife conservation.
Another important agreement between the two nations is the agreement “for the Development of an International Expedited Traveller Initiative (the Global Entry Programme).” Now, the approved Indian travellers will be extended the facility of quick entry into the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports.
The fifth agreement signed is the “Technical Arrangement between the Indian Navy and the United States Navy concerning Unclassified Maritime Information Sharing”. This agreement will allow the two nations to share unclassified information regarding white shipping and provide a structure for mutually beneficial marine information.
The sixth and last agreement signed between India and the United States was for “Cooperation in Gas Hydrates.” This agreement means a raise in the understanding of the geographic occurrence, distribution, and production of natural gas hydrates along the continental margin of India and the US.
We really hope that signing these agreements will help bring an improvement in the ties between the two countries.
