Washington – The President of the United States, Joe Biden, received Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington yesterday, with whom he sought to deepen cooperation in defense and technology and add an ally in the competition with China.
Despite concern about the human rights situation in India under the rule of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, the ruler’s state visit led to the signing of numerous contracts, particularly defense contracts, to the satisfaction of the White House, eager to relaunch the bilateral relationship.
Modi was first received by Biden, with military honors, before their interview in the Oval Office.
The two leaders then held a joint press conference, a rare occurrence for the Hindu nationalist.
“I have long believed that the US-India relationship will be one of the most decisive in the 21st century,” Biden said, before emphasizing the values of “free speech” and “religious pluralism”. Modi, in turn, stressed that “the societies and institutions of both the United States and India are based on democratic values,” adding that the two countries are “proud of their diversity.” This is how both expressed themselves regarding the complaints about an authoritarian bias and adverse to the Muslim minority that is attributed to the Government of New Delhi.
The visitor later went to Congress and participated in a gala dinner in the White House gardens. The menu was, in his honor, vegetarian and inspired by the cuisine of his country.
pacts
Leaving aside social events, the most anticipated announcement was about the future manufacture in India of F-414 engines for combat aircraft by the General Electric company, something considered by US sources as a “pioneering initiative” that will lead to major technology transfers.
A senior Democratic official also noted that India “committed to the acquisition of US combat drones” adding: “We are absolutely delighted.”
Biden can only be, indeed, delighted to see India diversifying its defense equipment, as the country has historically been reliant on Russia in this area.
The American group Micron, a heavyweight in the manufacture of semiconductors, essential in the field of computing, announced an investment of more than 800 million dollars in a factory in India.
The source anticipated that it is up to the United States and India to build a “semiconductor ecosystem that allows the diversification of supply chains”, whose fragility was evidenced by the covid-19 pandemic.
Biden and Modi also announced joint initiatives in space exploration and strategic metals, as well as maritime partnerships and the opening of consulates.
The pompous reception for the Indian prime minister illustrated the United States’ desire to deepen its partnership with the world’s most populous country of 1.4 billion people. Biden believes China’s ambitions, which worry New Delhi and which Washington is trying to counter, will convince India to turn to the United States even as the historically nonaligned country is unlikely to ever become a tough ally. To strengthen the relationship, the 80-year-old democrat, who has promised to articulate his foreign policy around the defense of democracy, had to avoid an overly aggressive approach to the issue of human rights and freedoms. Numerous international organizations accuse Modi of fueling the persecutions against the Muslim minority in Kashmir and of putting pressure on both the press and the opposition.
The US president “approaches these discussions and issues with a certain amount of humility,” said a senior White House official, noting that the United States “has its own problems” on the matter.
Biden “seeks to have a dialogue based on common challenges rather than lecturing or berating,” he said, displaying a pragmatism that Washington lacks with other countries.
Source: Ambito
