Modi hai to mumkin hai, says Mike Pompeo

Washington: Citing the popular election slogan “Modi hai to mumkin hai”, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has expressed confidence in taking the Indo-US strategic ties to the next level and said the two leading democracies have an “incredibly unique opportunity” to move ahead, including to make sure a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Giving a “sneak preview” of his upcoming visit to New Delhi later this month to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the new external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, Mr Pompeo said both countries should build ever-stronger relationships.

Noting that the US has a long bond with India, Mr Pompeo said time has come to forge more stronger ties. He said both sides should formalise these individual friendships, building out a diplomatic framework for the two countries. “As Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi said in his latest (election) campaign, ‘Modi hai to mumkin hai,’ (Modi makes it possible), I’m looking forward to exploring what’s possible between our people,” Mr Pompeo said in his major India policy speech at the India Ideas Summit of US-India Business Council here on Wednesday.

Mr Pompeo listed out some of the “big ideas and big opportunities” that can take the Indo-US bilateral relationship to a new level.

Mr Pompeo said he truly believes the two nations have a unique opportunity to move forward together for the good of their peoples, the Indo-Pacific regi-on, and the world.