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At a meeting in Washington on Thursday, Biden and Modi agreed on several economic and military agreements and pledged the partnership between the two countries. The Biden administration is aggressively seeking to tie India more closely as a major player in the Indo-Pacific and on the international stage. However, numerous US Congress politicians expressed concern about the human rights situation in India. Modi rejected this as unfounded.
Biden said he was “convinced that the relationship between the United States and India will be one of the defining relationships of the 21st century.” It is about “two great nations, two great friends, two great powers” that could determine the course of the century. The US and India must “work together and take joint leadership” to meet the challenges of the century.
Shortly before Modi’s visit, the US government had already announced several new partnerships, such as the sale of weaponized MQ-9B drones from the US to New Delhi, US investments in semiconductor manufacturing in India and new partnerships in aerospace and in the technology sector. Biden has now said that Indian companies have also announced investments of more than $2 billion (1.82 billion euros) in the United States. “Our trade relations are thriving,” he stressed. The partnership between the two countries has “limitless potential”.
Biden welcomed Modi to the White House with a formal ceremony. The Indian Prime Minister later gave a speech to both chambers of the US Congress, in which he praised his country’s rise, among other things. India is now the fifth largest economy in the world and represents one sixth of the world’s population. “If India grows, the whole world will grow,” he said. A festive state banquet for Modi was scheduled for that evening (local time) at the White House.
In contrast to regular working visits, state visits are accompanied by special formal pomp and circumstance, such as a state banquet. Modi is only the third foreign guest to receive this honor during Biden’s tenure. French President Emmanuel Macron paid a state visit to the United States last December. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol followed suit at the end of April.
India has overtaken China as the most populous country. With a population of about 1.4 billion, it is also the largest democracy in the world and has growing political and economic influence, especially in the Indo-Pacific. The Biden administration seeks to counter China’s push for power in the region and has therefore significantly promoted partnerships with other countries in the region, including the so-called quad alliance with India, Japan and Australia.
That Biden rolled out the red carpet for the Indian prime minister in this way also met with criticism. Modi of the Hindu nationalist BJP has been the country’s prime minister since 2014. During his tenure, India dropped several places in the democracy and press freedom rankings. Critics complain that religious minorities are discriminated against in the predominantly Hindu country.
Prior to Modi’s visit, more than 70 US politicians from the House of Representatives and Senate expressed concern about the human rights record in India and wrote an open letter asking Biden to raise these issues at the meeting. They warned that there were disturbing signs that political rights and freedom of expression are being curtailed in India, that religious intolerance against minorities is on the rise and press freedom is suffering. The White House said in advance that the president would not shy away from these difficult issues. Individual MPs also wanted to boycott Modi’s speech in Congress over these concerns.
Biden said in a joint press appearance with Modi that the two had intensively exchanged views on democratic values. “We are open to each other and respect each other.” Modi, who usually does not answer reporters’ questions at home, dismissed criticism of India’s human rights record in Washington. “Democracy is in our DNA. Democracy is our spirit. Democracy flows through our veins,” he said, affirming that there is “absolutely no discrimination” in India, be it caste, creed or anything else.
Another not so easy issue between the two countries is the Russian offensive war against Ukraine. India has been neutral on this so far and is not in favor of Western sanctions. The country has good relations with both Western countries and Russia, on which it depends for much of its military equipment. During the war, India also started buying more oil from Russia. The US, on the other hand, is Ukraine’s closest ally in the conflict and is at the forefront of the international alliance against Russia. Modi reiterated that India’s focus is on resolving the conflict in Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy. “We are ready to help restore peace in any way we can.”
(SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
