NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Further strengthening the relationship between the United States and India will be a cornerstone of the President-elect’s administration, a member of his transition team said during a briefing organized by the United States India Political Action Committee.
“The President-elect understands that the U.S.-India relationship is the most important relationship. India is our second-largest trading partner. The relationship will grow stronger,” said Rep. Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania, a member of Trump’s transition team.
Barletta added that India are one of the largest purchasers of U.S.-made defense equipment. He also said that the U.S. and India must join hands in the global battle against terrorism, which continues to grow, he said. USINPAC Chairman Sanjay Puri said Trump “must work on kick starting the economy, tackling ISIS and terrorism in Asia. The Indian-American community congratulates President Trump on such a decisive win and pledges to work with the new administration.”
Matt Keelen, a lobbyist who also served as an advisor to the Trump campaign, also spoke at the gathering. He spoke about both country’s efforts to tackle terrorism in their own backyards, adding that former President George W. Bush did a “good job of promoting India during a very trying time in the world.” Keelen cited the signing of the landmark U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Deal in the Bush administration.
He also confirmed that former Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal is being considered for the Cabinet position of Health and Human Services Secretary.
Trump’s main focus will be to rebuild the American economy, mainly by investment in more sophisticated infrastructure, Keelen said, adding that the President-elect’s approach has received bi-partisan support in the past. As he said so many times on the campaign trail, Trump will also seek to rally a slew of jobs, primarily in manufacturing, back to the U.S. Ford and General Motors recently cancelled scheduled moves to Mexico, and Apple Computer, a company that faced much scrutiny from Trump the candidate, recently began exploring the possibility of relocating iPhone manufacturing to the U.S.
“We are coming to a moment in history where America will truly boom,” Keelen said.
