Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go to the US on a state visit on June 22 following an invitation from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, the government said in a statement today.
The US President and the First Lady will also host PM Modi to a state dinner. “The visit will underscore the growing importance of the strategic partnership between India and the United States as the two nations collaborate across numerous sectors.
The leaders will have the opportunity to review strong bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interest, including technology, trade, industry… and deepening people-to-people connections,” the government said.
PM Modi’s state visit is a sign of the deepening US-India relationship as the Biden administration advances policies and initiatives for a free and open Indo-Pacific to counter what it sees as a growing threat posed by China.
Both India and the US are working to shore up support against China’s growing assertiveness.
PM Modi visited Mr Biden at the White House in 2021, but as part of the Quad summit bringing together the US, Australia, Japan and India, and not a full state visit.
The US and India last month announced an Initiative on critical and emerging technology, a plan to share advanced defence and computing technology, including the joint production of General Electric jet engines.
The two leaders will “explore ways to strengthen India-US collaboration in pluri-lateral and multilateral fora, including in the G20. They would reflect on their shared vision for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific and discuss opportunities to expand and consolidate the Quad engagement,” the government said today.
In a statement, the White House said the upcoming visit “will affirm the deep and close partnership between the United States and India and the warm bonds of family and friendship that link Americans and Indians together.”
“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 defence, clean energy, and space,” the White House said.