A Glitzy Visit to Washington: The Delicate Balance of U.S.-India Relations

A glitzy visit to Washington by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that came to a close Friday was a reminder that when strategic interests align, U.S. leaders can find ways to minimize differences on human rights and democratic values, even for a nation where minority groups say they find themselves increasingly embattled under Hindu nationalist rule.

There were days of ovations in Congress and backslapping meetings with President Biden. A White House celebration surrounded by 7,000 adoring supporters who dwarfed the dissenters. And on Friday, speeches to business titans who want to make money in the world’s most populous nation.

After a trip for which U.S. leaders largely set aside criticism in pursuit of a partnership against China, Modi may be emboldened to take a tougher stand at home that could eventually undermine the country’s stability and backfire on the White House, analysts said. But for now, Modi’s wager appears to be that so long as Washington needs India for its core foreign policy interests, he can still earn invitations stamped with a golden U.S. seal.

“The state visit confirms for India that illiberal or anti-democratic moves won’t in the near term change the strategic partnership,” said Tamanna Salikuddin, a former State Department official who directs South Asia programs at the U.S. Institute of Peace. “The U.S. has a high tolerance for illiberalism when we want to.”

Modi on Friday capped his U.S. visit by meeting with a crowd of supportive leaders from the large Indian American diaspora, many of whom cheered what they said was Modi’s pursuit of placing India in the top tier of nations. They outnumbered others who bitterly complained that Washington — and much of the diaspora community in the United States — was turning a blind eye to violence and repression against India’s large non-Hindu population.

Administration officials said they delivered their concerns about the rights of Muslims and other minority groups, but quietly. The louder messages underscored Washington’s need for a strong partner in New Delhi at a time when the United States has entered a swaggering competition with Beijing for control over the architecture of global trade and security.

The strategy carries some risks, analysts say, amid what the State Department has said is worsening sectarian violence in India and increased pressure on journalists and Modi’s political opposition. Violence between ethnic groups — one largely Hindu, one largely Christian — in the northeast state of Manipur has claimed more than 100 lives since May and led to the deployment of the Indian military to quell clashes not far from the border with China. Elsewhere, political opponents — including the leader of the main opposition party — have faced charges for defaming Modi.

“What we don’t want is that these issues blow up and they are so distracted, so internally focused, that they aren’t able to focus on China, aren’t able to focus on other issues,” Salikuddin said.

“But I don’t think that’s the case yet,” she continued. “They are confronting China in such a direct and open way that it would take a lot to pull them off that border.”

The balance between values and interests isn’t always easy, and Biden isn’t the first to confront the challenge. Whoever occupies the White House has “a lot of equities” to protect, former president Barack Obama told CNN in an interview that aired Thursday, and he noted that when he was in office, he dealt with allies who, “if you pressed me in private, do they run their governments and their political parties in ways that I would say are ideally democratic? I’d have to say no.”

Obama said safeguarding minority rights in India is important to raise, in part as a question of ensuring the stability of the country.

“If I had a conversation with Prime Minister Modi,” he said, “part of my argument would be that if you do not protect the rights of ethnic minorities in India, then there is a strong possibility India at some point starts pulling apart. And we’ve seen what happens when you start getting those kinds of large internal conflicts.”

For now, the Biden administration has downplayed divisions with India, prioritizing ties to push back China even over other core U.S. focuses. The administration has encouraged partner countries to reduce their trade with Russia, for instance, but a senior State Department official claimed ahead of the visit that India’s growing purchases of Russian oil in fact further American interests, even though they deliver money to the Kremlin’s war chest.

“India will make its own decisions about whether it purchases oil from Russia,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal considerations.

“We hope that India will continue to use the G-7 oil price cap to leverage lower costs for the Russian oil that it purchases,” the official said, referring to an effort by major world economies to sanction the sale of Russian oil above a set price. “That’s in the interest of all of us that it buys Russian crude at rock-bottom prices.”

“Our partnership between India and the United States will go a long way, in my view, to define what the 21st century looks like,” Biden said Friday at a meeting with Modi and top U.S. and Indian business leaders.

“Democracy is one of our sacred and shared values,” Modi said a day earlier in a speech to a joint session of Congress that was regularly punctuated by cheers and chants of “Modi! Modi!” by his fans in the viewing gallery of the chamber.

Some representatives of India’s large diaspora community in the United States said they were delighted by the muscular reception.

“This is a visit that says India has arrived. India is being treated as an equal,” said Amitabh VW Mittal, general secretary of the U.S. Indian Community Foundation, the group that hosted the diaspora event Friday. Mittal said he attended the congressional address and was astounded by the standing ovations.

He was dismissive of criticism of Modi’s human rights record.

“We have greater strife in the United States. We have greater strife in other countries,” Mittal said.

The generally welcoming response sparked frustration, though, among Indian American human rights advocates who said Modi was hollowing out his nation’s long tradition as a squabbling, multiethnic, secular democracy. And some human rights advocates said he was using the embrace by the leader of the free world to burnish his credentials in advance of an election in India next year — to “whitewash” his persecution of minorities, Arjun Sethi, a human rights lawyer, said.

Modi was denied a U.S. visa for his alleged involvement in 2002 riots in his home state of Gujarat, which killed at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims. And since Modi became prime minister in 2014, Muslim, Christian and Sikh minorities have faced persecution, according to State Department human rights reports.

“It’s as though there are two realities,” said Sunita Viswanath, a co-founder of Hindus for Human Rights, a group that advocates for minority rights in India and helped organize protests in New York and Washington to coincide with Modi’s visit.

“It’s a willful closing of our collective eye to a march to a far-right-wing drumbeat of the largest so-called democracy in the world toward becoming a theocracy,” Viswanath, who is Indian American, said.

She said the Modi visit was being closely tracked in diaspora communities around the world, who stay connected through the WhatsApp and Signal chat apps. But she said that in her activism work, she is sometimes frustrated with fellow Americans who have roots in India.

“It’s a lonely job in a diasporic community that is just mesmerized with stepping into power and privilege,” she said.

India has not chosen sides between the West and Russia, and hasn’t suffered for it, said Joshua T. White, a professor of practice at Johns Hopkins University and a senior adviser and director for South Asian affairs at the National Security Council during the Obama administration.

“They feel they are a desirable partner for many countries and therefore don’t really have to engage on human rights issues,” he said. “If anything, the Biden administration’s extremely lofty rhetoric about the relationship plays into this senseGlitzy Visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington Highlights Strategic Partnership with US

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, which concluded on Friday, showcased the strong strategic partnership between India and the United States. The visit emphasized the alignment of strategic interests between the two nations, with US leaders willing to overlook differences on human rights and democratic values. This has raised concerns among analysts that Modi may become emboldened to take a tougher stand at home, potentially undermining India’s stability in the long run.

During his visit, Modi received ovations in Congress, held backslapping meetings with President Biden, and attended a White House celebration with thousands of supporters. He also delivered speeches to business leaders interested in investing in India. The warm reception from US leaders and the Indian American diaspora community overshadowed the concerns raised by minority groups in India who feel increasingly marginalized under Hindu nationalist rule.

While the Biden administration did express concerns about the rights of minority groups in India, these concerns were delivered quietly. The focus of the visit was on strengthening the partnership between the two countries to counter China’s influence. However, this strategy carries risks, as sectarian violence and repression against minorities continue to escalate in India. The State Department has reported worsening sectarian violence, increased pressure on journalists, and charges against political opponents of Modi.

Despite these concerns, the Biden administration has downplayed divisions with India, prioritizing the partnership to counter China. The administration has encouraged partner countries to reduce their trade with Russia, but India’s growing purchases of Russian oil have been seen as furthering American interests. The US hopes that India will leverage the G-7 oil price cap to lower the costs of Russian oil purchases.

The visit highlighted the shared values of democracy between the US and India, with both leaders emphasizing the importance of their partnership. However, critics argue that the warm reception given to Modi sends the wrong message to those who are oppressed in India and to other world leaders seeking normalization. Five Democratic members of Congress boycotted Modi’s address, expressing concerns about human rights issues being overlooked during the visit.

Despite the criticisms, the US investment in India is expected to pay dividends in establishing a favorable balance of power in Asia. India’s growing influence and its willingness to partner with various countries make it a desirable partner for many nations. However, if illiberal trends continue in India, it could dampen Washington’s enthusiasm for treating India as an exceptional partner.

Overall, the visit highlighted the complex balance between strategic interests and democratic values. While the US prioritizes its partnership with India to counter China, concerns about human rights and minority rights in India persist. The long-term implications of this strategic partnership remain to be seen, but for now, Modi’s wager appears to be that as long as Washington needs India for its core foreign policy interests, he can continue to enjoy a golden US seal of approval.

How does the US-Taiwan partnership compare to the US-India partnership in terms of prioritizing strategic interests over human rights concerns, and what are the potential implications for global alliances

Article: Glitzy Visit of Indian PM Narendra Modi to Washington Highlights Alignment of Strategic Interests at the Cost of Human Rights Concerns

The recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington showcased the ability of US leaders to minimize differences on human rights and democratic values when strategic interests align. Despite concerns raised by minority groups in India regarding the embattlement they face under Hindu nationalist rule, US leaders set aside criticism in favor of forging a partnership against China.

During his visit, Modi received accolades in Congress, held meetings with President Biden, and was celebrated by a large gathering of supporters at the White House. He also delivered speeches to business leaders eager to tap into India’s lucrative market. The US leaders’ decision to overlook human rights concerns in pursuit of a strong partnership with India may ultimately undermine the stability of the nation and risk backlash for the White House.

Analysts argue that Modi’s successful visit may embolden him to take a tougher stand domestically, further threatening India’s stability. However, as long as India remains crucial to US foreign policy interests, Modi believes he will continue to receive invitations from the US.

According to Tamanna Salikuddin, director of South Asia programs at the US Institute of Peace, the state visit reaffirms that illiberal or anti-democratic moves in India will not immediately affect the strategic partnership with the US. The US seems to have a high tolerance for illiberalism when it suits its interests.

Modi’s visit concluded with a meeting with the Indian American diaspora, many of whom applauded his efforts to elevate India’s standing in the world. However, there were also voices of dissent from those who accused the US and parts of the diaspora community of turning a blind eye to violence and repression against India’s non-Hindu population.

US administration officials claim to have discussed concerns about the rights of Muslims and other minority groups with their Indian counterparts, albeit quietly. However, the louder message conveyed Washington’s need for a strong partner in New Delhi amidst the US-China competition for global trade and security dominance.

While the strategy to prioritize partnerships over human rights carries risks, some analysts argue that the US cannot afford to be distracted from its competition with China. The State Department has reported increasing sectarian violence and repression in India, including violence between Hindu and Christian groups, which has claimed over 100 lives. Journalists and political opponents critical of Modi’s government have also faced pressure and charges.

Former President Barack Obama acknowledged the challenge of balancing values and interests, noting that previous US presidents have dealt with allies who may not adhere to ideal democratic practices. Obama stressed the importance of safeguarding minority rights in India for the country’s stability.

The Biden administration has downplayed divisions with India to prioritize countering China, even at the expense of other key US priorities. While the administration urges partner countries to reduce trade with Russia, it claimed that India’s purchases of Russian oil actually serve American interests, despite delivering funds to the Kremlin’s war chest.

Although the Biden administration has chosen to prioritize its strategic partnership with India, these developments raise concerns about the long-term implications for human rights and stability in India. Balancing values and interests will continue to be a complex challenge for US leaders in their pursuit of global alliances.