No Decision on Trump Attending India’s Republic Day: White House
US President, if he decides to come, will be second American head of state to attend the celebrations.
US President Donald Trump has received an invitation to pay a visit to India, but no decision has been taken yet, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said on Wednesday, 1 August.
"I know that the invitation has been extended, but I do not believe that a final decision has been made," the White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters when asked about reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited President Trump to be the chief guest at the next year's Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.
She said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary James Mattis would be headed to New Delhi soon for the first India-US 2+2 Dialogue with their Indian counterparts External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
"The 2+2 dialogue would begin discussion on the process of a presidential visit next year," Sanders said at daily press conference.
"The United States and India have a deep and strategic partnership and we are going to continue to build on that partnership and advance co-operation," she said.
"I think, you will see that in the meeting that would take place in September," Sanders added.
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