Modi visits US to deepen ties, says no doubt on India's position on Ukraine
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to supporters as he arrives at the Lotte hotel in New York City, on June 20.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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NEW YORK/NEW DELHI - India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the United States on Tuesday for a state visit that has been projected as a milestone in bilateral ties that would deepen and diversify the two countries’ partnership.
Mr Modi has been to the US five times since becoming prime minister in 2014, but this visit, which lasts until Saturday, is his first with the full diplomatic status of a state visit.
It also marks only the third state visit of Mr Joe Biden’s presidency and the third by an Indian leader to the US, a sign of the strengthening bond between Washington and New Delhi and the distance they have travelled since being on opposite sides of the Cold War.
Mr Modi landed on Tuesday afternoon in New York, where he had business meetings. He will mark the International Day of Yoga on Wednesday before heading to Washington, where he will have a private dinner with Mr Biden, followed by talks at the White House and a state dinner on Thursday.
The visit is expected to see the two countries expand cooperation in the defence industry and high-tech sectors, with India getting access to critical American technologies that Washington rarely shares with non-allies.
“This special invitation is a reflection of the vigour and vitality of the partnership between our democracies,” Mr Modi said in a statement before departure.
“I will also meet some of the leading CEOs to discuss opportunities for elevating our trade and investment relationship and for building resilient global supply chains.”
Mr Modi on Tuesday met Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, who was to brief him on plans to set up an electric vehicle manufacturing base in India, a source with direct knowledge of the arrangement told Reuters.
“It was excellent and a very good conversation,” Mr Musk said after meeting Mr Modi, adding that he planned to visit India next year.
“I am confident Tesla will be in India and will do so as soon as humanly possible,” Mr Musk said when asked by reporters about a timeline.
Tesla has had discussions with the Indian government about incentives for car and battery manufacturing and proposed establishing a factory in India to build electric vehicles, Reuters reported in May.
Mr Musk is also executive chairman of Twitter, which has had run-ins with Mr Modi’s government.
Last week, Twitter’s co-founder Jack Dorsey said New Delhi threatened to shut it down in India
The US sees India as a vital partner in its efforts to push back against China’s expanding influence worldwide, although some analysts question India’s willingness to stand up collectively to Beijing over issues such as Taiwan.
Washington is also concerned about India’s unwillingness to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
US officials nevertheless see a stronger India that can defend its own interests and contribute to regional security in the Indo-Pacific as good for the United States.
US lawmakers invited Mr Modi to address a joint meeting of Congress. It will be Mr Modi’s second such address, a rare honour for a leader once denied a visa to enter the United States over human rights concerns.
Supporters dance ahead the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, outside the Lotte hotel in New York City.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Dozens of Mr Biden’s fellow Democrats on Tuesday urged him to raise the human rights issue with Mr Modi. The lawmakers said they were concerned about religious intolerance, press freedom, Internet access and the targeting of civil society groups.
Differences persist between Washington and New Delhi over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
India remains dependent on old friend Moscow for its defence needs and has sharply increased its imports of cheap Russian oil, frustrating the West.
Asked by The Wall Street Journal about US criticism of India for not taking a more forceful stance against Russia over Ukraine, Mr Modi said: “I don’t think this type of perception is widespread in the US.”
“I think India’s position is well known and well understood in the entire world. The world has full confidence that India’s top-most priority is peace,” he said in the interview published on Tuesday. REUTERS
