India’s PM Modi visits Washington

The White House rolled out the red carpet for the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday during a state visit by Modi to Washington hosted by President Joe Biden.

Though the countries are not formal treaty-bound allies and India has long relished its independence, Washington wants Delhi to be a strategic counterweight to China.

Closest partners

Biden and Modi hailed a new era in their countries’ relationship declaring themselves “among the closest partners in the world”.

“Two great nations, two great friends, and two great powers. Cheers,” Biden told Modi in a toast at a state dinner. Modi said in reply: “You are soft spoken, but when it comes to action, you are very strong.”

“The challenges and opportunities facing the world in this century require that India and the United States work and lead together, and we are,” Biden said as he welcomed Modi to the White House.

After Biden and Modi spoke privately for more than two hours, a joint statement included a warning of rising tensions and destabilizing actions in the East and South China Sea and stressed the importance of international law and freedom of navigation.

Ukraine tragedy

The two leaders “expressed their deep concern over the conflict in Ukraine and mourned its terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences,” noting the “serious and growing impacts of the war on the global economic system, including on food, fuel and energy security, and critical supply chains.”

Both countries pledged “continuing humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine” and “concurred on the importance of post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine.”

Indo-Pacific region

The two reiterated their enduring commitment to a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous India-Pacific region with respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, and international law.

“The dark clouds of coercion and confrontation are casting their shadow in the Indo Pacific,” Modi told Congress. “The stability of the region has become one of the central concerns of our partnership.”

The leaders emphasized the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the maintenance of freedom of navigation and overflight, in addressing challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the East and South China Seas.

New deals

The two countries announced agreements on semiconductors, critical minerals, technology, space cooperation and defense cooperation and sales.

The United States is India’s largest trading partner but the U.S. has much larger trading relationships with China, the EU, and North American neighbors.

Biden and Modi signed off on a deal to allow General Electric to produce jet engines in India to power Indian military aircraft, through an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics.

U.S. Navy ships in the region will be able to stop in Indian shipyards for repairs under a maritime agreement, and India will procure U.S.-made armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones.

U.S. chipmaker Micron Technology’s plans a $2.7 billion semiconductor testing and packaging unit, to be built in Modi’s home state of Gujarat. The U.S. will also make it easier for skilled Indian workers to get and renew U.S. visas.

India also agreed to join the U.S.-led Artemis Accords on space exploration and to work with NASA on a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.

Pakistan 

Both leaders called on Pakistan to act to ensure that its territory is not used to launch extremist attacks, the White House said in a joint statement.

“They strongly condemned cross-border terrorism, the use of terrorist proxies and called on Pakistan to take immediate action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for launching terrorist attacks,” the White House said.

“President Biden and Prime Minister Modi reiterated the call for concerted action against all UN-listed terrorist groups including Al-Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizb-ul-Mujhahideen,” the joint statement said.

Modi’s visit was not without controversy. The speech to Congress, normally a bipartisan affirmation of a visiting leader from an allied nation, was boycotted by some liberal lawmakers, who cited the Modi government’s treatment of India’s Muslim minority.