President Donald Trump will appear jointly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in “Howdy, Modi” event in Houston on September 22 to “underscore the important partnerships between the United States and India,” the White House said.
“It will be a great opportunity to emphasize the strong ties between the people of the United States and India, to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the world’s oldest and largest democracies, and to discuss ways to deepen their energy and trade relationship,” the White House said in a statement.
The event, “Howdy, Modi! Shared Dreams, Bright Futures,” is expected to draw tens of thousands of people, according to the statement.
Trump met Modi during the G-7 summit in France last month amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, the disputed territory which has been in a lockdown since New Delhi’s August 5 decision that did away with its special autonomous status agreed to at the time of the state’s accession to India more than 70 years ago.
For his part, Trump has offered to mediate between the two nuclear-armed neighbors to help find a resolution to the longstanding dispute. He hosted Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in July at his Oval office, just weeks before Modi’s move that escalated the South Asian tensions.
Trump has also spoken to Khan over telephone amid unprecedented communication blockade of Kashmir and human rights violations, which have draws widespread condemnation from rights organizations. The U.S. and Pakistani leaders are expected to meet in New York later this month.
Several American lawmakers have written to President Trump to help bring an end to Indian repression and human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Both Khan and Modi will be in the United States this month and attend the UN General Assembly session in New York. Khan, who has lambasted Modi’s restrictions in Kashmir as “fascist” is likely to raise the dispute at the global forum.
The United States has expanded its economic ties with India, also seen by many in Washington as a counterweight to rising China. Trump has also been critical of India’s economic protectionism and a few months ago cancelled a trade concession program for New Delhi, which sent $ 5 billion worth products to the U.S. market last year.
Meanwhile, organizers of the Howdy Modi event, Texas India Forum, has welcomed President Trump’s participation.
The Forum said it is “excited to welcome President Donald J. Trump to address over 50,000 Americans as we host Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India in Houston on September 22 at NRG Stadium.”
The “Howdy, Modi! Shared Dreams, Bright Futures” Community Summit attendees represent 48 states, coming together to emphasize the shared values and aspirations of two great nations whose partnership is important to global peace, prosperity, and human progress, the organizing forum says .
“This unique event brings together the President of the world’s most influential democracy, the Prime Minister of the world’s largest democracy, and a bipartisan delegation of Governors, Members of Congress, Mayors, and other public officials.”
