WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the White House will host a lavish reception to mark Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official state visit, signaling the country’s growing importance to the United States.
US President Joe Biden has only sent such an invitation twice before, to French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. Both countries are allies of the United States under international treaties.
Even the term “official state visit” is noteworthy.
As heads of government, prime ministers are usually invited to visit the country on an “official” rather than “state” visit, the status granted to heads of state.
Modi will also be invited to address a joint session of the Houses of Congress on Thursday.
Biden has at least two reasons to roll out the red carpet for Modi: he wants to strengthen India’s role in the region against China and to encourage him to abandon Russian weapons.
From Washington’s perspective, a strong partnership with Delhi is essential to realizing the US vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Eli Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security, made the announcement during a recent event at the Center for a New American Security.
“A stronger India, able to defend its interests and its sovereignty, is good for the United States,” he said.
The US administration supports Delhi’s military modernization, Ratner said, and is working to further integrate India into the military industrial base of the United States and other allies, including Japan, Australia and the United States. Philippines.
“A stronger India that can contribute to regional security through joint production and joint development with the United States. There is a desire to see India as a security exporter in the region, which is a boon for the United States,” Ratner added.
During the visit, Modi reportedly signed a $3 billion deal to procure more than two dozen armed Predator drones to monitor India’s border with China and Pakistan.
Another potential result of the visit could be the transfer of technology from the American company General Electric to the Indian Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the production of engines for the Tejas military fighters.
“India also seeks to acquire sensitive, critical and new technologies that the United States is often reluctant to share,” said Donald Camp, head of US-India policy studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Modi said his visit to the US was “an opportunity to enrich the depth and diversity of our partnership”.
In a statement released ahead of his departure from Delhi, Modi said he believed the visit would “strengthen our ties based on shared values, democracy, diversity and freedom”.
“Together we are stronger to solve common global problems,” the Indian leader said.
On the eve of the visit, Modi noted that Delhi’s stance towards Russia over the Ukraine conflict is not widely criticized in the United States.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Modi was asked to comment on US criticism that India has not taken a tougher stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I don’t think that perception is prevalent in the United States,” he said. – I think India’s position is well known and understood around the world. The world is absolutely convinced that India’s top priority is peace.”
Delhi has refused to condemn its longtime ally Russia for the war in Ukraine and has stepped up trade with Moscow to record levels, driven mainly by imports of Russian oil.
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