Forging a Bright Future Joe Biden and Narendra Modi Praise the ‘Defining’ US-India Relationship
“Joe Biden and Narendra Modi Hold Talks, Highlight aUS-India Relationship”
US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in bilateral discussions, underscoring the significance of the robust partnership between the United States and India.
During the meeting, various events were held to honor Prime Minister Modi’s visit, including marching bands, a lavish vegetarian dinner, and a 21-gun salute on the South Lawn of the White House.
Notably, President Biden acknowledged the evolving dynamics of the relationship, recognizing Prime Minister Modi as a crucial ally despite the past denial of his US visa over human rights concerns. The United States views India as an essential strategic partner to counterbalance China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region, although India has expressed reservations about being solely seen in that role.
In his address to the US Congress, Prime Minister Modi received a standing ovation. While he did not explicitly mention China, he alluded to the challenges posed by coercion and confrontation in the Indo-Pacific. He also refrained from assigning blame for the Ukraine conflict but highlighted the return of war to Europe.
Although India has refrained from openly criticizing Russia, it is believed to be due to India’s reliance on Russian defense imports and longstanding ties with Moscow. While this has created some strains between the US and India, President Biden chose to emphasize the positive aspects, describing the US-India relationship as stronger than ever and defining it as one of the pivotal connections of the 21st century.
Prime Minister Modi echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the meeting represented the convergence of the world’s two great democracies. He expressed confidence that the friendship between the two nations would contribute to global strength and described the visit as a new chapter in the comprehensive and global-strategic partnership between the United States and India.
However, some criticism surrounded Prime Minister Modi’s visit. Concerns were raised about his government’s handling of dissent and the treatment of minorities. While protests took place outside the White House, his visit was also supported by a significant and influential diaspora, including CEOs from Silicon Valley.
Certain liberal Democrats chose to boycott Prime Minister Modi’s speech in Congress, with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez among them. She expressed her belief on Twitter that individuals with “deeply troubling human rights records” should not receive state visits, which represent the highest level of diplomatic protocol in the United States.
In addition to the ceremonial aspects, progress was made on the trade front during the discussions. The two countries agreed to resolve outstanding disputes at the World Trade Organization and announced significant deals with General Electric and Micron.
Prime Minister Modi also deviated from his usual practice and answered questions from reporters, addressing concerns about human rights in India. He affirmed that democracy runs deep in India and asserted there is no room for discrimination in the country.
