Three-nation tour: PM Narendra Modi leaves for Portugal

Prime Minister Narenda Modi on Saturday embarked on a three-nation tour of Portugal,  the first-leg of his three-nation tour that will also take him to the US and the Netherlands during which he will hold talks with the top leadership of those countries to boost bilateral ties.
"The Prime Minister’s visit will strengthen ties between the United States and India and advance our common interest in fighting terrorism, promoting economic growth and prosperity, and expanding security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region,” PTI reported Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as telling Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar at Washington.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay had said Modi's visit to the US has "its own significance because it will be the first visit of the Prime Minister to engage with the new leader, with the new President (Donald Trump) after the elections last year" in the United States.
Modi would also hold talks with Antonio Costa, the Portugal Prime Minister of Indian origin, in Lisbon before flying to the US where he would meet President Donald Trump.
On his way back, Modi would visit The Netherlands for talks with Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague, besides calling on the King of The Netherlands Willem Alexander.