rolling out the red carpet for the prime minister Narendra Modi during his state visit In Washington, US President Joseph Biden underlined his belief that the India-US partnership would be one of the “defining relationships of the 21st century”, something he firmly believed in as the US Vice President in the Obama administration. The phrase mirrors a phrase used by US President Barack Obama. State banquet for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2009 – one of the “defining partnerships of the 21st century” – reflects the continued strengthening of the relationship in the first two decades of the century. Mr Modi’s visit, his first state visit to the US, has not disappointed the supporters of the relationship. The two sides announced new deals involving high-level defense cooperation, semiconductor industry investments, and partnerships in quantum and advanced computing and AI. Deal for co-production of jet engines in India — which the White House called “trailblazing” — would involve an unprecedented level of technology transfer. India’s decision to join the 11-nation Mineral Security Partnership for critical minerals where China has a global monopoly, and cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, especially clean energy, will strengthen future cooperation here. Finally, India’s move to sign Artemis agreement of 27 countries The NASA-ISRO partnership for cooperation in space exploration, and for human space flight will also boost India’s ambitions in this area.
It is important that areas of difference, such as differences in policies Russia’s war in Ukraine, and confrontation with China, where New Delhi has been more skeptical, has been sidelined. Perhaps more difficult to ignore were the loud questions on the state of democracy and human rights in India that were raised by 75 US members of Congress. raised in a letter to Mr. Biden, While some ultra-liberal Democrat lawmakers took the extreme step of boycotting Mr. Modi’s address to a joint session of Congress, the issue would be hard to ignore. words of mr obama In an interview the same day, on minority rights in India. Finally, Mr Modi’s response in a rare press availability with Mr Biden dismissed some misgivings over his administration – he denied acting on alleged discrimination against minorities and dissent. Rights issues are not a bilateral concern, and with his warm welcome, Mr. Biden made it clear that he did not share that concern. However, if Mr. Modi wants to address public concerns, he may find it more effective to make the case at a press conference upon his return, in which he emphasizes his belief that “if there are no human values and If there is no humanity, then there is none.” human rights, then it cannot be called a democracy”.