Pompeo to visit India on first leg of his Indo-Pacific visit; says it's incredibly important relationship

Pompeo will set off on a weeklong visit to the Indo-Pacific region, beginning on June 24, during which New Delhi would be his first stop and South Korea his last.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo/ (AFP)

New Delhi: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who is scheduled to visit India this month, said that this bilateral relationship is incredibly important to both the countries. His remarks come two weeks ahead of his travel to India. Pompeo also told reporters on Monday that he would outline the US strategy on the Indo-Pacific in a speech Wednesday in Washington ahead of his trip to New Delhi. Pompeo will set off on a weeklong visit to the Indo-Pacific region, beginning on June 24, during which New Delhi would be his first stop and South Korea his last. He would also visit Sri lanka and Japan during  the tour. Pompeo said he would visit India this month to forge relations with re-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Before starting his trip, Pompeo will address the India Ideas Summit of US-India Business Council on June 12. "I'll be speaking to a group of Indian business leaders in preparation for the trip that I'll take in a couple weeks where I'll be visiting India, an important part of President (Donald) Trump's strategy in the Indo-Pacific," he told reporters at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the US State Department on Monday. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity both to give the set of remarks about how it is our relationship is so closely tied economically, but also importantly the things that the United States and India can continue to do to build out what is an incredibly important relationship for both countries," Pompeo said. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus told reporters that Pompeo will travel to the Indo-Pacific region on June 24 through June 30 to broaden and deepen America's partnership with key countries to advance their shared goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific. "The secretary's first stop will be in New Delhi, India. Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's recent election victory provides an excellent opportunity for him to implement his vision for a strong and prosperous India that plays a leading role on the global stage," she said. Pompeo will preview elements of a cooperative agenda during his remarks at the India Ideas Summit at the US Chamber of Commerce, she said. His next stop will be in Colombo, where Pompeo will express America's solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka as they stand united against the despicable Easter Sunday terrorist attacks. He will also discuss promising opportunities for US-Sri Lanka cooperation based on shared commitments to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, she added. Pompeo will then travel to Osaka, Japan, to participate in the G20 Leaders' Summit from June 28 -29, the first such gathering hosted by Japan. On the margins of the summit, Pompeo will join Trump in meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to coordinate "on the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea", and to discuss ways to strengthen trilateral cooperation with South Korea on "our unified approach towards North Korea" and other shared challenges, she said. Following the G20 Summit, Pompeo will accompany Trump to South Korea to meet with President Moon Jae-in. "The two leaders will also discuss ways to strengthen the United States-Republic of Korea alliance. President Trump and President Moon will continue their close coordination on efforts to achieve the final, fully verified denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," Ortagus said. (with PTI inputs)