New Delhi, Feb. 13 -- Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said that reestablishing next steps in an already-close strategic partnership would be a key element of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled bilateral talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House, on Thursday.

Speaking exclusively to IANS ahead of the much-anticipated meeting between the two leaders, Shringla said that the very fact that PM Modi's "momentous visit" to Washington takes place just a few weeks after President Trump assumed office underscores the strength of India-US friendship and strategic ties between the two nations.

"Prime Minister Modi is only the fourth global leader to meet President Trump in his second term. He's also the first...