Ahmedabad: The city of Ahmedabad buzzed with activity and chatter, hours ahead US President Donald Trump arrives on the first leg of his maiden two-day visit to India on Monday that will be closely followed in both countries and also many world capitals, given the expanding global strategic partnership between the two countries.
Trump will land in Ahmedabad around noon and from there he goes to Motera Stadium to address the "Namaste Trump" event -- similar to the "Howdy Modi" in Houston -- signifying the growing bonhomie between Trump and Modi and the importance of people-to-people ties in India-US relations.
“It is an honour that he will be with us tomorrow, starting with the historic programme in Ahmedabad,'' said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on whose invitation the US president is making his State visit.
Also, ahead of the visit, Trump said he was looking forward to being with his ''great friends'' in India.
Trump will land in Ahmedabad around noon and attend the Namaste Trump event at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium. From the airport to the stadium, a large number of people are expected to line up along the route. There will be artisans who will be showcasing their skills and performing arts from different states and union territories of India. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday reviewed preparations of the 'Namaste Trump' event.
“The visit will primarily be one for pomp, show and symbolism,'' said Aparna Pande, director of the Hudson Institute Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia.
''It matters to two nationalist populist leaders that they can demonstrate to their domestic audience and to the world that they have a reliable partner and ally.''
But the visit is not just about optics and atmospherics.
There is a genuine opportunity for two leaders to have a conversation on how the world's oldest and largest democracies can truly shape the 21st Century.
“I think we have to understand this visit and see this visit in the context of a certain maturity which we have reached in the relationship. There is a growing comfort level between the two countries. There is a good chemistry between the two leaders," said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.
“Both sides are working to showcase the progress in our relationship in a befitting and meaningful manner during the visit. We, of course, are eagerly looking forward to the visit which will provide an opportunity for both leaders to review the bilateral ties and further strengthen the global strategic partnership," he said.
The State Department said the US sees India as a "pillar of our Indo-Pacific strategy" and it wants a strong India that supports peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.
"We continue to work together to promote this vision of a free and open international system based on market economics, good governance, freedom of the seas and skies, and respect for sovereignty."
This year also marks the 20th anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's historic visit to Washington during which he invoked the famous phrase of natural alliance.
“We are approaching an important inflection point in the US-India relationship," Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Alice G Wells said and the Tump visit would outline an ambitious vision for the next chapter of this natural alliance.
