As ties between New Delhi and Washington deepen, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake his first state visit to the United States later this month.

At the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, the Indian Prime Minister will land in Washington on June 22. During his visit, Modi will attend a state dinner which will be hosted by the US President and the First Lady at the White House. He will also address the US Congress during the trip.

To finalize preparations ahead of Modi’s state visit to Washington, US President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan will visit India next week, the White House confirmed on Wednesday.

Washington is working to deepen its ties with the world’s largest democracy, forging military and industrial ties with the South Asian nation as a key counterweight to Chinese rule, even as the two democracies differ on how to face a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A spokesman for the White House National Security Council said Sullivan would “meet with Indian officials to discuss deepening collaboration in critical areas of importance between the United States and India” before the Modi’s state visit on June 22.

A senior official said Dr news that Sullivan would review the “results” of the state visit and ensure “we are moving in the right direction.”

Last May, Biden and Modi announced a “bilateral initiative on critical and emerging technologies,” dubbed “iCET,” which directs their governments to work together on cutting-edge technologies ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) to chips. semiconductors and quantum computing, particularly in the field of defence. .

As part of the move, the Biden administration is set to sign a deal that will allow General Electric (GE.N) to manufacture the jet engines that power Indian military planes in the country, according to a Drberita report from the May 31st. The White House declined to comment on the report.

“I think we are moving in the right direction,” the US official said on Wednesday. “We will notify Congress immediately.”

India, the world’s largest arms importer, depends on Russia for nearly half of its military supplies and has been buying fighter jets, tanks, nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers for decades .

Washington is eager to further address India’s defense needs and is seeking support from this year’s Group of 20 (G20) hosts to pressure Russia for a war in Ukraine.

– Additional contribution from Drita / The Drita