President Biden emphasized common ground with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India on Thursday during a lavish state visit aimed at strengthening ties with the world’s most populous nation, but the public he avoided points of contention over India’s crackdown on human rights and Russia’s war in Ukraine. .
After a lavish, red-carpet arrival ceremony, Mr. Biden and Mr. Modi announced a range of initiatives to boost cooperation in technology, energy and military hardware but signaled no mutual movement on areas of disagreement that have strained relations in recent months. especially in Ukraine.
In a modest but notable development, however, Mr. Biden asked Mr. Modi to take questions from reporters at a news conference, apparently the first time he had done so in his nearly decade-long tenure. . Challenged by his record on human rights and religious freedom, Mr. Modi said democracy was “in India’s DNA” and denied that his government engaged in discrimination based on race, creed or other differences.
“Democracy is our spirit. Democracy runs in our veins. We live in a democracy,” said Mr. Modi as Mr. Biden looked on in the East Room of the White House. “There is absolutely no room for discrimination,” added Mr. Modi, even as demonstrators outside the gates of the White House protested the crackdown on dissent back in India.
Answering questions himself, Mr. Biden rejected criticism from Beijing of his comments this week describing Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “dictator.” He said that bluntly outlining what he sees as “the facts about” China “is not something I would change much.” But he added that he is still waiting to meet Mr. Xi later this year despite what he said. “I don’t think it has any real consequences.”
The state visit for Mr. Modi is the latest move on the geopolitical chess board as Mr. Biden seeks more allies against the increasingly aggressive governments of Moscow and Beijing. India, which remained staunchly nonaligned during the Cold War, refused to join the American-led coalition helping Ukraine in its war against invading Russian forces. And while it shares a certain hatred for China, it does not fully subscribe to Washington’s strategy for dealing with the Asian giant.
Mr. Biden celebrated India’s rise with a pageantry display on the South Lawn complete with marching bands, honor guards and a 21-gun salute, followed by a gala state dinner in the evening. In between, Mr. Modi will address a joint session of the Congress.
“I’ve long believed that the relationship between the United States and India will be one of the defining relationships of the 21st century,” Mr. Biden told a crowd gathered on the South Lawn, “two great -on countries whose love of freedom ensures our freedom, bound by the same words in our Constitution, the first three words, ‘we the people.'”
Mr. Modi, wearing a traditional long vest known as an achkan, thanked Mr. Biden for the honor of a state visit and also suggested that the two countries could face the international challenges together. “In the post-Covid era, the world order will take a new shape,” he said in Hindi. “At this time, the friendship between India and the US will be an instrument for the development of energy around the world.”
India, whose population recently surpassed China to lead the world, represents perhaps the most important of the so-called Global South countries that Mr. Biden is pursuing, for its economic potential as well as its geopolitical position. And Mr. Modi, who did not address that directly in his arrival ceremony remarks, nevertheless referred to India’s growing power, citing its population of 1.4 billion three times in just a few minutes. .
To mark their relationship, the two leaders launched a long list of joint initiatives in telecommunications, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and other areas. Mr. Modi agreed to sign the Artemis Accords, a set of principles governing the peaceful exploration of the moon, Mars and other celestial bodies, and the two will announce a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024. The United States The United States and India will open additional consulates in each country.
Among the most concrete deals highlighted on Thursday was an agreement between General Electric and state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to manufacture in India the F414 engines used to power the Boeing F/A- 18E/F Super Hornet. Both sides also announced that India will continue a long-stalled $3 billion purchase of MQ-9B Predator drones from General Atomics.
The sale of military hardware may help further cut India off from Russian arms suppliers, but otherwise officials previewing the visit gave no indication that Mr. Modi will come close to supporting Ukraine in the war, nor are there any concrete examples of further cooperation to counter China. assertive movements in the Indo-Pacific region.
Biden administration officials suggested the meeting was just one step in an evolution of India’s stance on the war in Ukraine, part of what they described as a “bending of the arc of engagement with India,” so New Delhi could help encourage of diplomacy when it’s time for negotiations. will finally arrive.
But Mr. Modi has given no indication that he is ready to shift his neutral position on the war. Again, he emphasized the need for “dialogue and diplomacy” and added that “we are fully prepared to contribute in any way we can to restore peace,” without condemning the senseless invasion. in Russia’s neighboring country.
In the development of Mr. Modi, who before becoming prime minister was denied a US visa for his role in a deadly religious riot in his home country, Mr. Biden has taken a slow approach to turning his back on democracy in India. In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Biden described the two countries as fellow democracies committed to universal values without directly addressing the growing repression of minority groups and opposition voices in India.
“Justice under the law, freedom of expression, religious pluralism, the diversity of our people — these core principles have endured and thrived even as they have faced challenges throughout our nations’ history, and will inspire the our strength, depth and future,” Mr. Biden said at the arrival ceremony.
Officials previewing the visit said the president would raise human rights issues during his private meetings with Mr. Modi, but in briefing reporters they used the word “respect.” more than once to recognize Mr. Biden’s approach.
Several liberal Democrats in Congress plan to boycott Mr. Modi’s speech at a joint session later Thursday. “A joint speech is one of the most prestigious invitations and honors the United States Congress can offer,” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said. wrote on Twitter. “We will not do this for individuals with troubling human rights records.”
The scene on the South Lawn in the morning highlighted the growing role of Indian Americans in the United States as a crowd of thousands gathered on a dark, overcast day to cheer the prime minister’s visit. and chant, “Modi, Modi!”
Mr. Biden pointed to the prevalence of Indian Americans in prominent positions. “We see it here in the White House where proud Americans of Indian heritage serve our country every day – including our vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris,” he said, turning to Ms. Harris standing to the side.
The mother of Ms. Harris immigrated from India to the United States as a teenager and Mr. Biden cited the story of “a family like many of us in our country that tells thousands of stories of determination, courage and hope. “
The state dinner, only the third of Mr. Biden’s presidency, will be held on the South Lawn in a pavilion draped in green with saffron-colored flowers on every table, the colors of the Indian flag. Lotus flowers, an important symbol of India, will be incorporated throughout the decoration. Images of the bald eagle and peacock, the national birds of both countries, will be displayed as a backdrop when the leaders offer their traditional toasts.
The menu will be vegetarian, according to Mr. Modi, with an optional fish meal. The first course was marinated millet and grilled corn kernel salad with compressed watermelon and avocado sauce, followed by the main course of stuffed portobello mushrooms and creamy saffron-infused risotto. A sumac-roasted sea bass is available upon request. A rose and cardamom-infused strawberry shortcake will be served for dessert.
Joshua Bell, the Grammy-winning violinist, will perform, as will Penn Masala, a South Asian a cappella group founded by University of Pennsylvania students, and the US Marine Band chamber orchestra.
