PM Modi’s US Visit to Showcase Depth of India-US Relationship: Dhruva Jaishankar

Dhruva Jaishankar, executive director of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) America, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first state visit to the US is significant because it shows the breadth of the relationship between the two countries.

It is Prime Minister Modi’s first state visit to the United States. The significance of this visit will be to show the breadth of the relationship and how India and the US discuss almost every major issue today.”

He added, “We hope to see some movement forward in joint defense production and defense trade in some critical areas that are absolutely vital to Indian national security.”

Dhruva’s remarks came as Modi arrived on Tuesday for the first leg of his first state visit to the United States, during which he will lead celebrations for the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations headquarters and hold bilateral talks with President Joe Biden in Washington.

The executive director of the prominent think tank said that India and the United States have similar concerns about the rise of China, and they are the two parties that receive Chinese aggression and worry about Chinese aggression.

This obviously makes India and the US cooperate more closely together. “A lot of cooperation between India and the US happens apart from China,” he added.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, who will host him at a state dinner on June 22. The visit includes a speech by the Prime Minister at the joint session of the Council of Ministers. The US Congress on June 22.

Read more: Meet the CEOs, Yoga Day: A look at Prime Minister Modi’s itinerary on the first day of his state visit to the US

In his departure statement, Modi said that this “special invitation” from President Biden and the first lady to visit a country is a reflection of the vitality and dynamism of the partnership between democracies.

A senior White House official on Tuesday stressed the importance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to the US saying that the state visit is also not about Russia and China, rather this “big week” is about bilateral relations between India and the US.

Speaking at a news conference, John Kirby, the White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, explained that the visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations on its own basis.

This is not about forcing, coercing or trying to convince Prime Minister Modi or the Indian government to do something different. Kirby was quoted by ANI news agency as saying it was about focusing on where we are in this relationship and making it more important, more robust and collaborative going forward.

Read morePM Modi’s visit to the US is not about Russia or China, this big week is about bilateral relations: the White House

This is a “big week” here at the White House, the White House official said, as President Biden and the First Lady welcome the Prime Minister of India to an official state visit and dinner.

It is the third state dinner and visit of this administration. This visit will underscore the deep and close partnership between the United States and India and the intimate bonds of family and friendship that bind Americans and Indians together.”

He added, “The visit will reinforce our two countries’ shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region, and our shared determination to elevate our strategic technology partnership, including in the fields of defense, clean energy, and space.”