WASHINGTON (TIP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit the US in June to hold a bilateral meeting with US President Barack Obama before he demits office in January next year.

Sources confirm that the US has reached out to India on this matter and the dates are being sorted out. Sources say if dates can’t be worked out for June, Modi may then travel to the US in September. Obama is keen on meeting some world leaders before stepping down and the US is in the process of reaching out to these leaders.

Obama will be demitting office in January next year after two four-year terms. His presidency has seen its fair share of highs and lows. Modi and the US President were able to develop a good rapport, which resulted in Obama accepting the invitation to be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade in 2015. That also helped Modi score a diplomatic coup on the home front.

Besides the personal camaraderie between the two leaders, the US today has great interests in India, which it wants to safeguard. The US wants to build India as an ally in the region vis-a-vis China.