PM Modi to join US Prez Joe Biden for State Dinner this summer?
PM Modi to join US Prez Joe Biden for State Dinner this summer?
If reports are to be believed President Joe Biden plans to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a state dinner this summer.
The dinner with PM Modi will be President Biden’s third formal state visit and dinner, following one he hosted for French President Emmanuel Macron in December and one for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol scheduled for April 26.
Reportedly, PM Modi’s formal state visit is a sign of the deepening US-India relationship as the administration advances policies and initiatives for a free and open Indo-Pacific to counter what it sees as a growing threat posed by China.
PM Modi visits Australia in May when both Joe Biden will convene for the Quad summit along with the leaders of Australia and Japan prior to his state visit to US in June.
Interestingly, US political leaders have sought to strengthen ties with PM Modi.
Meanwhile, India will be hosting the Group of 20 leaders summit in New Delhi in September, where Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will be among the chief topics of discussion. It’s not yet clear if Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the gathering.
Last month, the and India announced an Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology, a plan to share advanced defense and computing technology, including the joint production of General Electric Co. jet engines.
The partnership on critical technologies is intended in part to counter Russian influence in India by reducing its historic reliance on Moscow for military hardware, and China’s growing assertiveness. US political leaders of both parties have sought to strengthen ties with PM Modi.
According to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, China-Russia factors are real, but so is the idea of building a deep, democratic ecosystem of high technology amid previewing the partnership. Geopolitics doesn’t sit off to the side, but it’s not a comprehensive explanation for what’s at work in US.
News Input K.V.Raman
