| 21 June 2023
US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to engage in two days of talks aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between their two nations. Despite ongoing concerns about human rights in India, the White House views this meeting as crucial for bolstering the relationship between the two countries.
The United States sees India as a key strategic counterweight to China, while Modi aims to elevate India's global influence as the world's most populous nation. The discussions are expected to result in several agreements covering defense cooperation, defense sales, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and investments in India by US companies such as Micron Technology.
While the Biden administration acknowledges concerns about democratic backsliding in India, they have stated that they will not lecture Modi on the matter. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized that the United States voices its views on challenges to press freedom, religious freedom, and other liberties, but does so without seeking to assert superiority or ignore its own challenges.
Sullivan further emphasized that the trajectory of Indian politics and democratic institutions will be determined by the Indian people themselves and not by external forces such as the United States. Despite concerns surrounding the deteriorating human rights situation under Modi's leadership of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, this visit marks Modi's first state visit to the United States, highlighting the significance of the occasion.
President Biden faces pressure from fellow Democrats to address human rights issues with Modi, but the Indian Prime Minister has been warmly welcomed by US CEOs, including a meeting with Tesla's Elon Musk. Both leaders are grappling with the growing influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
While the focus of the visit is not solely on China, Sullivan affirmed that discussions will encompass China's role in the military, technology, and economic domains. Modi will also visit the National Science Foundation with First Lady Jill Biden and attend a private dinner with President Biden at the White House.
On the following day, a colorful arrival ceremony will be held for Modi on the White House South Lawn. The two leaders will engage in talks in the Oval Office and attend a state dinner in Modi's honor. While a joint press conference was not planned, discussions are ongoing regarding this matter.
In addition to bilateral issues, President Biden will address Russia and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Given India's reliance on Russian oil, the United States seeks to engage with Modi on these matters ahead of the G20 summit, which will be hosted by India later this year.
According to Sullivan, the talks between Biden and Modi will cover a wide range of strategic discussions and practical advancements, emphasizing the significance of the partnership between the two nations. The outcome of this meeting is expected to strengthen the ties between the United States and India, shaping one of the defining partnerships of our time.
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