Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit promises to lay a strong foundation for the relations between India and America that has grabbed global attention amidst the Russia-Ukraine war and the dynamics of geopolitics in the face of China aggression. All eyes are on the ongoing US visit of PM Modi. The increasingly assertive China has brought Delhi and Washington closer to boosting strategic partnership on the fronts of politics, economy, technology and military domains.
Inevitably, the bonhomie and deeper bonding between India and the US heralds a new equation of relations bringing the two societies closer. The substantive outcome of the Modi-Biden meeting is not only restricted to the Indo-Pacific, rather it is seen to sway the changing global economic order. PM Modi’s visit to the United States from June 21 to June 24 will see him participating in big-ticket events like: Yoga Day celebrations at the UN headquarters, meeting with Industry tycoons, interaction with members of the Indian diaspora, an address to a joint session of the US Congress, a state dinner to be hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
Here are 5 key points you must read about PM Modi’s US visit:
Musk Modi meet
PM Modi and Tesla CEO-Twitter owner Elon Musk had a meeting on Wednesday. The Prime Minister tweeted that he had multifaceted conversations with Musk on issues ranging from energy to spirituality. Appreciating Musk’s effort to make technology affordable and accessible, the PM invited the Twitter boss to explore opportunities for investments in India.
After the meeting with Modi, Musk told reporters that he is a big fan of Modi and incredibly excited about the future of India. Musk firmly said, “Tesla will be in India soon.”
Yoga at UN headquarters
During his US Visit, PM Modi will participate in the celebrations of International Yoga Day, June 21, to be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. It is indeed a sense of deja vu and pride moment of Indians. The Prime Minister, a strong proponent of Yoga, is going to lead entrepreneurs, foreign dignitaries, bureaucrats and diplomats in a session for Yoga Day. The United Nations General Assembly adopted 21 June as International Yoga Day on December 11, 2014. The first International Yoga Day celebrated with great gusto, entered the Guinness World Records Book.
Defence deal
The Modi-Biden meeting will focus on the elevation of strategic technology partnerships including defence, space and clean energy that could strengthen the commitment of both countries to secure Indo-Pacific regions. India and the US will ink deals on the purchase of high-altitude drones, jet engine technology, and other major projects related to defence and security.
Indian Americans voters
PM Modi holds a big clout with the Indian American community, a key voting bloc in the US. The impact of Indian American people, a nearly 5 million population and fastest-growing voting bloc, on the US ballot box is considerable. Also, Indian Americans are considered to be a key vote in a number of swing states. The electoral heft and growing visibility of Indian Americans emblematically add spin to the optics of Modi’s US visit.
Denial of visa to state visit honour
Denied a diplomatic visa in 2005 against the backdrop of the Godhara carnage, Modi will be the third world leader (after France’s Emmanuel Macron and South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol) who will have a red carpet welcome in Washington DC by President Biden for a state visit and dinner. For Modi, this is the first state visit and a sixth trip to the US as Indian Prime Minister, though he has been the PM for the past nine years. Before Modi, his predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh (November 23-25, 2009) and President Radhakrishnan (June 3-5, 1963) made a state visit to the US.
-RAMAKANT CHAUDHARY
