India visit aimed at solidifying partnership: Haley

US Ambassador to the Unites Nations Nikki Haley, who is on a two-day India visit on Wednesday had a glimpse of India's rich cultural and historic heritage as she visited the 450-year-old Mughal marvel Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi.

"It makes me happy to be back in India. It's as beautiful as I remember it to be. We started out at Humayun's tomb which is a reminder of how much we value culture and how much India values culture and to see the preservation that has happened here," Nikki Haley said.

"On this trip to India, we have got a lot packed into a short amount of time. But it really comes down to the strength of the United States and India partnership," the US envoy said along the sidelines of her visit to Humayun's Tomb here.

Haley, who is in India from June 26-28, said she aims at exploring multiple ways to take India-US opportunities forward.
"Whether it is counter-terrorism or better ways to work together more strongly on the military aspect, there are lots of things that India and the US have in common," she said.

She further asserted that her visit to India is to solidify the US' love for the country, belief in the friendship the two countries share and the willingness to make that relationship even stronger.

Nikki Haley during her two-day visit will meet senior Indian officials, business leaders and students, underscoring America's "strong alliance" with the country.

Talks between Haley, the highest ranking Indian-American in the Donald Trump administration, and Indian officials could include India-U.S. strategic ties and significant global developments.

The visit to India by one of the Republican party's rising stars comes just days before U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James Mattis will host External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman in Washington for the inaugural US-India 2+2 Dialogue on July 6.

Haley's visit assumes significance as the Trump administration walks away from key multi-lateral pacts, re-writing American engagement with its key western allies.