India–US talks heat up on nuclear energy and LPG trade
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri discussed energy cooperation with the US in nuclear power and new areas such as coal gasification and LPG exports in his meeting with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Misri’s discussion with Wright focused on “advancing energy security, deepening bilateral energy trade, and identifying new avenues to strengthen the India-US Energy Partnership“, the Indian Embassy here said in a social media post on Friday.
US Ambassador to India, Sergei Gor, who was also present at the meeting, said America was ready to cooperate with India on civil nuclear cooperation in addition to other areas, such as coal gasification and US LPG exports. “Great to spend this (Friday) morning with @SecretaryWright and FS Vikram Misri to discuss the future of US-India energy cooperation. After India’s historic passage of the SHANTI bill, we are ready to cooperate on civil nuclear in addition to other areas such as coal gasification and US LPG exports,” Gor said in a social media post.
Later on Friday night, he hosted Misri at US President Donald Trump‘s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
“It was a pleasure to host @VikramMisri tonight at Mar-a-Lago! From trade and defence to energy, India and the United States stand ready to work closely together in the months and years ahead,” Gor posted on social media.
The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy Act (SHANTI Act) is considered the most sweeping reform in the civil nuclear sector in India. The law, which came into force last December, opens up the tightly-controlled civil nuclear space for private participation. It also repealed the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act of 2010. Misri arrived in the US late Tuesday night on a three-day visit. He has held meetings with senior officials from the departments of defence, commerce, and state.
Misri also met Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday. India’s Air Chief Marshal A P Singh was also on a visit to the US and visited the Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs on Wednesday. He interacted with General Gregory M Guillot (Commander US-NORTHCOM/ NORAD) for a productive exchange of perspectives on complex operational modalities, reflecting the strength of the growing partnership, the IAF said in a social media post. In separate meetings, Gor held discussions with Steve Feinberg, the US Deputy Secretary of Defence, and Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll.
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