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Last updated on October 7th, 2024 at 02:43 am
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to make his first state visit to the United States from June 21 to 25, 2023, at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. A state visit is the highest level of diplomatic engagement that the US offers to a foreign leader, and it signifies the importance of India as a crucial future partner for the US.
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The Biden-Modi summit will be an opportunity to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, especially in the areas of security, trade, technology, energy, climate change, and democracy. The US expects India to play a key role in upholding the rules-based international order and countering the challenges posed by China and Russia in the Indo-Pacific region.
Security and Defence Cooperation
One of the main pillars of India-US relations is security and defence cooperation. The two countries have signed several landmark agreements, such as the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), that enable interoperability, information sharing, and access to advanced military technologies.
The US also recognizes India as a Major Defence Partner, which allows India to receive defence equipment and technology at par with its closest allies. The US is one of the largest arms suppliers to India, with deals worth over $20 billion in the last decade. During PM Modi’s visit, the US is likely to push for more arms sales, especially of drones, helicopters, fighter jets, and missile systems.
The two countries also conduct regular joint exercises, such as Malabar, Yudh Abhyas, Vajra Prahar, and Tiger Triumph, to enhance their military readiness and coordination. They also cooperate in multilateral forums, such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), which also includes Australia and Japan, and the trilateral dialogue with Japan. The Quad is seen as a vital platform to promote a free, open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
Trade and Investment
Another key aspect of India-US relations is trade and investment. The two countries have a robust economic partnership, with bilateral trade reaching $146 billion in 2019. The US is India’s largest trading partner in goods and services, while India is the ninth-largest trading partner for the US. The two countries also have significant investments in each other’s economies, creating jobs and opportunities for both sides.
However, there are also some challenges and disputes in the trade relationship, such as tariffs, market access, intellectual property rights, e-commerce, data localization, and digital taxation. The two sides have been engaged in negotiations to resolve these issues and reach a mini trade deal that could pave the way for a comprehensive free trade agreement in the future.
PM Modi’s visit could provide an impetus to these talks and help achieve a breakthrough on some of the contentious issues. The two leaders could also explore ways to diversify their trade basket and tap into new sectors, such as clean energy, healthcare, education, innovation, and digital economy.
Technology and Innovation
Technology and innovation are another vital area of cooperation between India and the US. The two countries have established several mechanisms to foster collaboration in science and technology, such as the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), the Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation (JCM), and the Science & Technology Endowment Fund (STEF).
The two countries also work together on cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, nanotechnology, quantum computing, cybersecurity, space exploration, etc. The US is home to many Indian-origin scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and innovators who contribute to both countries’ technological advancement.
During PM Modi’s visit, the two leaders could discuss ways to enhance their technology partnership, especially in defence, clean energy, and space domains. They could also address some of the challenges posed by emerging technologies, such as data privacy, cyber threats, ethical standards, etc.
Energy and Climate Change
Energy and climate change are another important dimension of India-US relations. The two countries have a shared interest in ensuring energy security, diversifying energy sources, promoting renewable energy development, and combating climate change.
The two countries have launched several initiatives to cooperate in the energy sector, such as the US-India Strategic Energy Partnership (SEP), the US-India Clean Energy Finance (USICEF), the US-India Catalytic Solar Finance Program (CSFP), and the US-India Gas Task Force (GTF).
The two countries are also committed to the Paris Agreement on climate change and have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and increase their share of renewable energy in their energy mix. The US has rejoined the Paris Agreement under the Biden administration, while India has made significant progress in achieving its climate goals.
PM Modi’s visit could provide an opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to the Paris Agreement and enhance their cooperation on clean energy and climate action. The two leaders could also announce new initiatives or partnerships to support each other’s efforts to transition to a low-carbon economy.
Democracy and Human Rights
Democracy and human rights are another crucial aspect of India-US relations. The two countries share common values of democracy, pluralism, rule of law, and human dignity. They also support each other’s democratic institutions and processes, such as elections, judiciary, media, civil society, etc.
The two countries have established several platforms to exchange views and best practices on democracy and human rights issues, such as the US-India Global Issues Forum (GIF), the US-India Civil Society Dialogue (CSD), and the US-India Human Rights Dialogue (HRD).
However, there are also some areas of divergence and concern in this domain, such as the human rights situation in Kashmir, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the farmers’ protests, the internet shutdowns, etc. The US has expressed its views on these issues from time to time, while India has maintained that these are its internal matters.
PM Modi’s visit could be an occasion to address some of these concerns and reaffirm their commitment to democracy and human rights. The two leaders could also highlight their common vision for a democratic and rules-based world order.
Conclusion
PM Modi’s state visit to the US is a historic and landmark event that could take India-US relations to new heights. The two leaders have a lot of common ground and mutual interests to build upon and expand their strategic partnership. They also have some challenges and differences to overcome and manage. The visit could be a game-changer for both countries and the world at large. It could also showcase the strength and potential of the world’s largest and oldest democracies.
FAQs Answered:-
Q: What is a state visit and why is it important?
A: A state visit is the highest level of diplomatic engagement that the US offers to a foreign leader. It involves a formal welcome ceremony, a meeting with the president, a state dinner, and other events. A state visit signifies the importance of the relationship between the two countries and provides an opportunity to discuss various issues of mutual interest and cooperation.
Q: What are the main areas of cooperation between India and the US?
A: The main areas of cooperation between India and the US are security and defence, trade and investment, technology and innovation, energy and climate change, and democracy and human rights. The two countries share common values, interests, and challenges in these domains and have established several mechanisms and initiatives to enhance their partnership.
Q: How will India and the US counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region?
A: India and the US have a shared vision of a free, open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, where all countries respect sovereignty, international law, and norms. They also have a common concern about China’s aggressive and coercive actions in the region, such as its territorial claims, maritime disputes, debt-trap diplomacy, cyberattacks, etc. India and the US will work together to uphold the rules-based order, support regional stability, promote connectivity, enhance maritime security, and foster economic development in the Indo-Pacific region. They will also cooperate with other like-minded partners, such as Australia and Japan, through platforms such as the Quad.
Q: What are the challenges and disputes in the trade relationship between India and the US?
A: The trade relationship between India and the US is robust but also has some challenges and disputes. Some of the issues that affect the trade relationship are tariffs, market access, intellectual property rights, e-commerce, data localization, digital taxation, etc. The two sides have been engaged in negotiations to resolve these issues and reach a mini trade deal that could pave the way for a comprehensive free trade agreement in the future.
Q: How will India and the US collaborate on emerging technologies?
A: India and the US have a strong collaboration on emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, nanotechnology, quantum computing, cybersecurity, space exploration, etc. The two countries have launched several initiatives to foster innovation and research in these fields, such as the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), which covers various domains from defence cooperation to strategic trade to building resilient supply chains to collaboration in space to education. The two countries also work together to address some of the challenges posed by emerging technologies, such as data privacy, cyber threats, ethical standards, etc.
Q: How will India and the US cooperate on clean energy and climate change?
A: India and the US have a shared interest in ensuring energy security, diversifying energy sources, promoting renewable energy development, and combating climate change. The two countries have launched several initiatives to cooperate in the energy sector, such as the US-India Strategic Energy Partnership (SEP), which covers four pillars: power & energy efficiency; oil & gas; renewable energy; coal & carbon capture utilization & storage (CCUS). The two countries are also committed to the Paris Agreement on climate change and have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and increase their share of renewable energy in their energy mix.
Q: How will India and the US reaffirm their commitment to democracy and human rights?
A: Democracy and human rights are another crucial aspect of India-US relations. The two countries share common values of democracy, pluralism, rule of law, and human dignity. They also support each other’s democratic institutions and processes, such as elections, judiciary, media, civil society, etc. The two countries have established several platforms to exchange views and best practices on democracy and human rights issues, such as the US-India Global Issues Forum (GIF), the US-India Civil Society Dialogue (CSD), and the US-India Human Rights Dialogue (HRD). However, there are also some areas of divergence and concern in this domain, such as the human rights situation in Kashmir, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the farmers’ protests, the internet shutdowns, etc. The two sides will try to address some of these concerns and reaffirm their commitment to democracy and human rights during PM Modi’s visit.
Q: PM Modi US Visit 2023 Schedule?
A: PM Modi’s US visit in 2023 will span from June 21 to June 25, during which he will visit New York and Washington DC. His schedule will include the following events:
On June 21, he will lead the International Yoga Day event at the UN Secretariat in New York, where he will be joined by several top Indian Americans.
On June 22, he will fly to Washington DC, where he will receive an official welcome at the South Lawn of the White House with a 21-gun salute. He will then hold bilateral talks with President Joe Biden, followed by a state dinner hosted by Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The state dinner will feature a plant-based menu prepared by guest chef Nina Curtis and a musical performance by violinist Joshua Bell.
On June 23, he will address a joint session of the US Congress, where he will highlight the importance of India-US relations and the shared values and interests of the two democracies. He will also meet with some prominent members of the US Congress and some top American CEOs.
On June 24, he will attend a community reception organized by the Indian diaspora in Washington DC, where he will interact with over 5,000 Indian Americans and deliver a speech on the role of the diaspora in India’s development.
On June 25, he will depart for India.
Q: PM Modi US Visit 2023 Tickets?
A: PM Modi’s US visit in 2023 is an official state visit, which means that most of his events are not open to the public. However, some events, such as the International Yoga Day event in New York and the community reception in Washington DC, may have limited seats available for interested participants. The tickets for these events are likely to be distributed by the organizers through online registration or lottery systems. The details of these events and how to obtain tickets may be announced closer to the date of the visit through official channels or media outlets.
Q: US President Visit To India?
A: US President Joe Biden has not yet announced any plans to visit India, but he has expressed his desire to do so in the future. In a phone call with PM Modi in February 2021, Biden said that he hoped to be able to host Modi in Washington soon and that he looked forward to visiting India at a later date. Biden has also praised India’s role as a leading global power and a vital partner for the US in the Indo-Pacific region. He has also reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries on various issues, such as security, trade, technology, energy, climate change, and democracy.
Q: PM Modi Upcoming Foreign Visits 2023?
A: Apart from his US visit in June 2023, PM Modi has several other foreign visits planned for the year. Some of them are:
In July 2023, he will visit Japan to attend the G20 summit hosted by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. He will also hold bilateral talks with Suga and other leaders on issues such as trade, investment, infrastructure, innovation, etc.
In September 2023, he will visit the UK to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) hosted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He will also hold bilateral talks with Johnson and other leaders on issues such as post-Brexit relations, COVID-19 recovery, climate change, etc.
In October 2023, he will visit Indonesia to attend the ASEAN-India summit and the East Asia Summit hosted by President Joko Widodo. He will also hold bilateral talks with Widodo and other leaders on issues such as maritime security, connectivity, trade, investment, etc.
In November 2023, he will visit Australia to attend the APEC summit hosted by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. He will also hold bilateral talks with Morrison and other leaders on issues such as defence cooperation, counter-terrorism, cyber security, etc.
