Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun his official visit to Washington, where he is expected to strengthen cooperation between India and the United States on defense and technology. Despite concerns about human rights in India, President Joe Biden and Modi are determined to enhance bilateral ties.
The two-day visit got off to a slightly rocky start when Modi arrived half an hour late for a visit to the National Science Foundation, causing First Lady Jill Biden to begin without him. However, Modi apologized for the delay and later joined the Bidens for a private dinner at the White House, where they exchanged smiles and laughs.
The visit includes several official events, including a speech by Modi before Congress and a rare joint press conference with Biden. It is worth noting that Modi has rarely held press conferences in India since coming to power in 2014, with only one instance in May 2019 where no questions were asked.
The United States sees India as a strategic counterweight to China, while India aims to increase its influence on the international stage. This visit is Modi’s fifth to the United States since becoming Prime Minister, but it is the first with full diplomatic status.
However, some Democratic peers of President Biden want him to use Modi’s visit as an opportunity to discuss human rights concerns in India. Activists have also planned demonstrations, urging Biden to publicly reprimand Modi on the issue.
In addition to defense and technology cooperation, the two leaders are expected to discuss Russia and Ukraine at Biden’s initiative. Washington is frustrated that New Delhi has maintained certain economic and defense ties with Moscow despite the ongoing conflict.
A senior US official, speaking anonymously to reporters, noted a “subtle shift” in India’s approach to Russia since Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin last September that the current era is “not an era of war.”
The visit of Prime Minister Modi to Washington holds significant importance for both countries as they seek to strengthen their partnership in various areas.
How does the United States view India’s role as a strategic counterweight to China, and what are the potential implications for bilateral cooperation in defense and technology?
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on his official visit to Washington, where he aims to bolster cooperation between India and the United States in defense and technology. Despite concerns over human rights in India, President Joe Biden and Modi are determined to strengthen bilateral ties.
The two-day visit got off to a slightly rocky start when Modi arrived half an hour late for a visit to the National Science Foundation, causing First Lady Jill Biden to begin without him. However, Modi promptly apologized for the delay and later joined the Bidens for a private dinner at the White House, where they shared smiles and laughs.
The visit includes a series of official events, including a speech by Modi before Congress and a rare joint press conference with Biden. It is worth noting that Modi has seldom held press conferences in India since assuming power in 2014, with only one instance in May 2019 where no questions were asked.
The United States views India as a strategic counterweight to China, while India aims to enhance its influence on the global stage. This visit marks Modi’s fifth trip to the United States as Prime Minister, but the first one with full diplomatic status.
Nevertheless, some Democratic counterparts of President Biden want him to utilize Modi’s visit as an opportunity to address human rights concerns in India. Activists have also planned demonstrations, urging Biden to publicly reprimand Modi on the issue.
In addition to defense and technology cooperation, the two leaders are expected to discuss Russia and Ukraine at Biden’s request. Washington is frustrated by New Delhi’s maintenance of certain economic and defense ties with Moscow despite the ongoing conflict.
A senior US official, speaking anonymously to reporters, observed a “subtle shift” in India’s approach to Russia since Modi informed Russian President Vladimir Putin in September last year that the current era is “not an era of war.”
The visit of Prime Minister Modi to Washington holds great significance for both countries as they strive to strengthen their partnership across various domains.
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“The discussion between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a positive step towards fostering stronger defense and technology cooperation. While human rights concerns should not be overlooked, it is encouraging to see leaders engaging in open dialogue to address shared challenges.”