2010 Barack Obama visit to India

U.S. President Barack Obama's 2010 visit to India took place from 6-9 November 2010. India was the first stop on a presidential trip that took Obama to Indonesia, South Korea, and Japan. Obama visited the cities of Mumbai and New Delhi. During the visit Obama addressed the Parliament of India in a joint session. During the address, Obama gave public support for India to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. During the trip, trade deals of a total value of US$10 billion were signed. The trip marked a shift in US policy towards India and reflected India's growing economic influence.
Mumbai
During his stay in Mumbai, the President stayed at the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, which had previously been the site of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The President commemorated the attacks (known as 26/11 in India) in a speech he gave from the hotel's terrace. Obama was the first foreign head of state to stay at the hotel since the attacks. Obama was accompanied in Mumbai by a fleet of 34 U.S. warships including an aircraft carrier. Later he visited the Mani Bhavan Gandhi museum and library. There he signed the same guest book that Martin Luther King, Jr. signed on a visit in 1959.. He hosted various business activities at the Oberoi Trident. The President later hosted a town hall meeting at where he took questions from 300 students.
New Delhi
The President proceeded to New Delhi, where he visited Humayun’s Tomb and met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He also addressed the joint session of the Indian Parliament. Near the end of the speech Obama said, "I look forward to a reformed U.N. Security Council that includes India as a permanent member." The announcement, which generated sustained applause, was a major U.S. policy shift which surprised some international relations observers. Calling India-U.S. relationship a defining partnership of 21st century he also announced removal of export control restrictions on several Indian companies and concluded trade deals worth $10 billion which are expected to create/support 50,000 jobs in the U.S. during this visit.

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