Obama's visit to India is an attempt to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. He will be meeting with Prime Minister Modi, who was previously not welcome in Washington. This visit will mark the first time a US president has attended India's Republic Day parade, which was once associated with anti-American sentiments during the Cold War. Obama and Modi will also host a radio show together. The relationship between the two countries has had its ups and downs, but Obama hopes that they can finally become true global partners. Modi greeted Obama and his wife, Michelle, at the airport in New Delhi as they arrived for their visit. The two leaders embraced each other warmly, deviating from protocol as the prime minister typically does not greet foreign leaders upon their arrival. Instead, they are met at a formal ceremony at the presidential palace. Modi surprised his own handlers by making the decision to break with tradition, according to media reports. Obama's motorcade then proceeded to the welcome ceremony at President Pranab Mukherjee's residence, with the roads lined by armed police and soldiers in a highly coordinated security plan for the visit. Media reports indicate that up to 40,000 security personnel will be present during the visit, and 15,000 new closed-circuit surveillance cameras have been installed in the capital. The two parties have been working together to come to agreements on climate change, taxation, and defense cooperation before the visit. Discussions regarding a potential civil nuclear trade deal were undecided until the last minute. The United States sees India as a valuable market and potential counterbalance to China in Asia, but is often frustrated by India's slow economic reforms and reluctance to align with US interests internationally. India is hoping for a new approach from the US towards Pakistan, especially in terms of security and regional issues. India's Finance Minister Arun Jaitley expressed this desire ahead of Obama's visit to Davos. Modi, who was elected in May, has brought new energy to the economy and foreign relations, much to the satisfaction of Washington. He has also started to counter China's increasing influence in South Asia. Despite the current annual bilateral trade of $100 billion being considered low, the US aims to increase it by five times. Due to the death of King Abdullah, Obama will be cutting short his visit to India to travel to Saudi Arabia instead of visiting the Taj Mahal as planned. Both Obama and Modi come from humble backgrounds and have formed a bond, with their shared visit to Martin Luther King's memorial in Washington in September strengthening their connection. The connection between Modi and Obama is noteworthy due to their differing political ideologies and Modi's past controversies. While Obama had a close relationship with Modi's predecessor, Singh, their personal chemistry did not prevent issues from arising between the US and India during Obama's presidency. Despite efforts to strengthen their geopolitical relationship, challenges still remain, such as finding a solution to India's liability law that has impacted the 2009 nuclear deal. Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes stated to reporters this week that there is remarkable potential in this relationship. He emphasized the importance of converting this potential into tangible advantages for both nations.