Washington [US], May 11: U.S. President Joe Biden will host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official state visit on June 22, the White House said, as Washington works to deepen ties with the world's largest democracy.
"The visit will strengthen our two countries' shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific and our shared resolve to elevate our strategic technology partnership, including in defense, clean energy, and space," Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
Biden has been eager to strengthen relations with India as part of his bid to win what he has framed as a contest between free and autocratic societies, especially China.
Asked about human rights concerns in India, Jean-Pierre defended the visit, telling reporters that Biden believes "this is an important relationship that we need to continue and build on as it relates to human rights."
During a February visit to Washington by India's national security adviser, AjitDoval, the United States and India launched a partnership to deepen ties on military equipment, semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
New Delhi has frustrated Washington by participating in military exercises with Russia and increasing purchases of the country's crude oil, a key source of funding for the war in Ukraine. Washington has been pushing New Delhi to do more to punish Russia for the Ukraine invasion.
Ashley Tellis, a former U.S. government official behind U.S. efforts to engage more closely with India, caused a stir this month, arguing in the Foreign Affairs periodical that Washington's expectations of U.S.-India relations are misplaced particularly when it comes to China, despite shared concerns about Beijing's growing power.
While the United States has focused on "contributions toward coalition defense," he wrote, "New Delhi sees things differently. It does not presume that American assistance imposes any further obligations on itself."
Source: Fijian Broadcasting Corporation
