US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today called for speaking "strongly" in favour of religious freedom rights and asserted that the world is worse off when they are compromised. "India is the birthplace of four major world religions. Let's stand up together for religious freedom for all, let's speak out strongly together in favour of those rights for whenever we do compromise those rights, the world is worse off," Mr Pompeo said in his India policy speech at the India International Centre in the national capital.
Earlier in the day, Mr Pompeo and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar issued a joint statement post-bilateral talks. He also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. This was his first high-level engagement with PM Modi-led NDA regime after Lok Sabha elections.
Mr Pompeo called on PM Modi and discussed various aspects of the bilateral relationship. It marks the third visit of a US Secretary of State to India during the Trump administration.
After his India visit from June 25-27, Mr Pompeo will travel to Japan to attend the G-20 Summit with Trump. PM Modi would also be attending the summit of leaders from top 20 economies of the world. US President Trump and PM Modi would be joined by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for their second trilateral summit.