US President Joe Biden received Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as state guest at the White House on Thursday. Apart from the bilateral talks, a state banquet is also planned for Modi. The Prime Minister of India is also scheduled to address both chambers of the US Congress. On Wednesday night (local time), Biden and Modi wanted to meet for an informal dinner.
In contrast to ordinary working visits, state visits are accompanied by special formal celebrations, such as state banquets. Modi is only the third foreign guest to receive this honor during Biden’s tenure. French President Emmanuel Macron paid a state visit to the United States last December. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol followed in late April.
National Security Council communications director John Kirby previously said that the relationship with India is one of the most important bilateral relations in the world for the United States, not least because of the country’s increasing prominence on the international stage. The topic of the visit, for example, is security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and cooperation in the fields of defense, technology, energy and space. However, Kirby emphasized, difficult issues, such as human rights, were also discussed. “State visits aren’t just about the red carpet and good food.”
According to the White House, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine should also be a problem. India has so far taken a neutral stance in this regard, and most of India’s military equipment comes from Russia.
The Biden administration’s foreign policy has a heavy focus on Asia and the Indo-Pacific. The US is trying to counter China’s desire to seize control of the region. Biden has significantly promoted partnerships in the region, including in so-called quad alliances with India, Japan and Australia.
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