As President Barack Obama plans his second trip to India to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and celebrate the country’s Republic Day, Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) recently offered his thoughts on the excursion, suggesting it should be more than just a feel-good photo opportunity.
“President Obama’s second trip to India and his participation in India’s Republic Day ceremonies is greatly symbolic of the deep partnership between our two countries,” Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said. “But this visit needs to be about more than just good visuals. The critical U.S. relationship with India has lagged the last several years. This visit is a jump start chance not to be missed.”
Royce’s concerns center on the U.S.–India Civil Nuclear Agreement, legislation that he helped pass nine years ago. Since the agreement was approved in 2006, Royce said very little progress has been made on its terms.
“The president should make headway in the long-stalled U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement,” Royce said. “The administration has prioritized energy cooperation to help India meet its significant needs. Implementation of the Civil Nuclear Agreement would be a major step towards that goal and a win for American business.
“With Prime Minister Modi’s promises of re-energizing the India economy, the administration needs to make serious strides in promoting stronger trade relations,” Royce said. ”While the U.S. and India have made progress in recent years in bolstering bilateral trade, we haven’t come close to realizing the full potential of this relationship.”
“Renewing our Defense Framework Agreement and improving intelligence cooperation should also be a top priority,” Royce said. “With the significant threat that India faces from radicalism, renewing the Defense Framework Agreement should be a top priority.”