Indian PM Narendra Modi will visit the US on an official state visit on 22 June, following an invitation from US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden amidst the US’ concerns about human rights violations in India. The two countries will discuss their shared vision for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-pacific.
“The visit will affirm the deep and close partnership between the United States and India and the warm bonds of family and friendship that link Americans and Indians together,” an official White House release stated.
Strengthening Collaboration in Multilateral Fora
New Delhi welcomed the visit as “historic” and called it a valuable opportunity for the two countries to deepen a comprehensive, forward-looking global partnership.
An official press release by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said, “Prime Minister Modi and President Biden will also explore ways to strengthen India-US collaboration in plurilateral and multilateral fora, including in the G20.”
PM Modi's visit to US to affirm "deep and close partnership" between two nations: White House
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Modi and Biden will discuss opportunities to expand and consolidate the Quad engagement and the growing importance of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The discussions will include elevating the strategic technology partnership between the two countries, including defence, energy, clean energy, and space.
US-India Relations, Human Rights Concerns
This visit is the first state visit by Modi to the US. His previous visit to the White House was in 2021 as a part of the Quad Summit, which includes the US, Australia, Japan, and India.
The visit comes as the ties between the two countries have been stressed by issues like US concerns about human rights violations by the Indian government and India’s relations with Russia.
A report by an independent US commission called upon the US State Department, for the fourth year in a row, to list India as a country of particular concern regarding violations of religious freedom. The Indian government rejected the report calling it “biased.”
When asked by reporters regarding the same, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “we regularly engage with — with Indian government officials at senior levels on human rights concerns, including freedom of religion or belief.”
She went on to add the Biden “never shies away” to have such conversations with any world leader.
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While India has called for peace in Ukraine, it has fallen short of criticising Russia’s aggression. Despite Western sanctions on Russia, New Delhi has continued to buy cheap oil from Moscow.
Nonetheless, Jean-Pierre told reporters that Biden believes “this is an important relationship that we need to continue and build on.”
The two countries have repeatedly tried to improve their ties amidst the growing Chinese influence and assertiveness. India and the US have engaged in multilateral efforts like I2U2 and Quad. The latest in this series of steps was the recent bilateral talks between the Indian NSA Ajit Doval and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan in Saudi Arabia.
The invitation to the White House is another attempt at thawing the ties between the two countries.