US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday that relations between the two democracies will be critical in the next century. This comes at a time when the United States is seeking to counter China’s influence and dismissing accusations of growing authoritarianism in New Delhi.
During Modi’s state visit, Biden provided a warm welcome and military honors. In addition, important agreements were reached in areas such as fighter jet engines, semiconductor investment, and space cooperation.
Biden expressed his belief that the US-India relationship will be one of the most decisive of the 21st century and stressed the importance of both countries working and leading together to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of today’s world.
For his part, Modi, who is considered one of India’s most powerful prime ministers in decades, stressed that the visit marks a new direction and energy for the global strategic partnership with the United States.
On the conflict in Ukraine, Modi said India is ready to contribute in any way to restore peace and stressed the importance of respecting territorial integrity and international law.
Modi also defended his record in an unusual exchange with the press, emphasizing that there is no room for discrimination in India and that both countries’ societies and institutions are based on democratic values.
Modi’s visit has led to the resolution of trade disputes at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and agreements to eliminate retaliatory tariffs on certain US products. In addition, important agreements were reached in the area of defense, such as the transfer of technology for the production of fighter jet engines and the acquisition of armed drones.
The United States is also seeking to strengthen collaboration in the semiconductor sector, with Micron investing in a fab in India. In addition, a joint mission between the Indian space program and NASA to the International Space Station in 2024 was agreed upon.
Although Modi’s visit has not been well received by all, with Democratic parliamentarians planning to boycott his speech in Congress due to concerns about human rights and religious freedom in India, the Biden administration is seeking broader alignment with India to address the challenges posed by China and Islamic radicalism.