NEW DELHI, May 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go to the US on a state visit next month on an invitation from the President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, the government said in a statement on Wednesday.
The White House also confirmed Modi’s visit which will include a state dinner to be hosted by the US President and the First Lady on June 22.
“The visit will underscore the growing importance of the strategic partnership between India and the United States as the two nations collaborate across numerous sectors. The leaders will have the opportunity to review strong bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interest, including technology, trade, industry… and deepening people-to-people connections,” the government said.
Modi’s state visit is a sign of the deepening US-India relationship as the Biden administration advances policies and initiatives for a free and open Indo-Pacific to counter what it sees as a growing threat posed by China. Both India and the US are working to shore up support against China’s growing assertiveness.
Modi visited Biden at the White House in 2021, but as part of the Quad summit bringing together the US, Australia, Japan and India, and not a full state visit. The US and India last month announced an Initiative on critical and emerging technology, a plan to share advanced defence and computing technology, including the joint production of General Electric jet engines.
The two leaders will “explore ways to strengthen India-US collaboration in pluri-lateral and multilateral fora, including in the G20. They would reflect on their shared vision for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific and discuss opportunities to expand and consolidate the Quad engagement,” the government said.
In a statement, the White House said the upcoming 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.”
“The visit will strengthen our two countries’ shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific and our shared resolve to elevate our strategic technology partnership, including in defence, clean energy, and space,” the White House said.
The visit has been in the works for months, with Indian officials working out the logistics for Modi’s first state visit during the Biden administration.
The Indian readout went into more detail, adding that the two leaders would reflect on “their shared vision for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific and discuss opportunities to expand and consolidate the Quad engagement.” The MEA also said the visit would allow Modi and Biden to explore ways in which India and the U.S. could strengthen their cooperation at the G-20 (of which India currently holds the rotating presidency) and other multilateral and plurilateral forums.
Modi and Biden are expected to discuss an expansion in educational exchanges, climate change, workforce development and health security, according to the White House. “This historic visit offers a valuable opportunity for India and the US to further deepen a comprehensive and forward-looking global strategic partnership,” the MEA said.
(Manas Dasgupta)