Sarah Palin attends Delhi conclave today

New Delhi: Sarah Palin, former governor of the US state of Alaska, and the running mate of Republican presidential candidate Sen John McCain in his failed bid for the US presidency against president Barack Obama, is in New Delhi on a high-profile visit.

On Saturday evening, Palin delivers a keynote address at the India Today Conclave in New Delhi, a gathering that also features Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed El Baradei and Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh.

The theme of the conclave, in its 10th year, is "The Changing Balance of Power", and Palin will deliver a speech titled 'My Vision of America'.

"I'm very excited to visit India," Palin said in a statement to the Indian press. "Americans have a great respect for the world's largest democracy and the US are partners in trade and business affairs. Working together our two nations can build a more peaceful and prosperous world."

Subsequently, on Sunday, Palin travels to Israel where she is expected to meet prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss "key issues," according to a statement from her office.

She follows a long list of potential candidates who have made the pilgrimage to connect with the Israeli leader. The Jewish lobby in America is famed for its political and financial clout, thanks to the power and position of its diaspora.