Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday in Washington touted the “new energy” of partnership with the United States while rejecting criticism of its record on rights and freedoms.
In a long statement announcing big contracts and promising deeper partnerships in multiple areas, Joe Biden and his guest claim to have established “the most comprehensive vision to date for the progress of the bilateral relationship”.
The American president, anxious to tighten the bond with India to stand up to China, praised during a press conference a bilateral relationship “stronger, closer and more dynamic than ever”.
Something very rare, if not unprecedented, for a leader who avoids interactions of this kind, the Hindu nationalist leader responded during this event to an American journalist.
The latter questioned him about the accusations of repression of Muslims and authoritarian drift issued by many associations as well as by the UN.
“In India’s democratic values, there is absolutely no discrimination,” he said.
The topic followed Narendra Modi during his address to the US Congress.
“We welcome all the religions of the world”, he assured in the hemicycle of the House of Representatives. Democratic parliamentarians, yet allies of the president, boycotted his visit.
Narendra Modi had, before becoming Prime Minister 9 years ago, been unwanted for years in the United States because of “serious violations of religious freedom”.
This time, no more visa problem, but the red carpet and all the pomp of the White House for the Indian Prime Minister, in the name of common strategic interests against the Chinese giant.
India is embroiled in a border dispute with China, while Joe Biden seeks to strengthen his position in the all-out rivalry between Washington and Beijing.
The American president, however, assured that he still hoped to meet “soon” his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, whom he recently put in the category of “dictators”, to the chagrin of Beijing.
Received in the morning with military honors for his arrival, Narendra Modi was treated to an elegant vegetarian dinner in the evening, under a green-flagged tent set up in the gardens of the White House.
The Indian Prime Minister toasted – without alcohol, because like Joe Biden, he does not drink it, and in English – to the “unbreakable ties of friendship” between the two countries.
Narendra Modi – who had a very good relationship with Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s predecessor and his potential rival for the 2024 presidential election – multiplied the thanks, compliments and warm anecdotes for his host.
The US president raised his glass of ginger ale to “two great nations, two great friends, two great powers.”
He also praised the human ties between the two countries, giving the example of Vice President Kamala Harris, whose mother left India for the United States at the age of 19.
The strongest announcement of the visit was that of the forthcoming manufacture in India of engines for fighter jets by the conglomerate General Electric.
India will also acquire American combat drones.
Joe Biden can only be delighted to see India diversifying its defense equipment, which is historically dependent on Russia in this area, and which has adopted a reserved position vis-à-vis Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine.
Narendra Modi, however, called on Thursday, in his joint statement with the American president, to respect “the territorial integrity and sovereignty” of Ukraine.
The visit also served to deepen the economic relationship.
The American group Micron, a heavyweight in semi-conductors, has for example announced an investment of more than 800 million dollars in a factory in India.
The United States is not alone in courting the most populous country in the world. Narendra Modi will be the guest of honor at the French National Day military parade in Paris on July 14.
23/06/2023 03:33:33 – Washington (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
