According to reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be hosted by US President Joe Biden for state dinner this summer
According to insiders, the state dinner is slated for June, though it’s possible the timing may shift. The upcoming formal visit is seen as a significant step in strengthening the relationship between India and the US, as the White House aims for a free and open Indo-Pacific to counter China’s expanding presence in the area.
The two leaders are also expected to meet in Sydney for the Quad summit, which will also include the heads of Japan and Australia. This gathering follows President Biden’s hosting of French President Emmanuel Macron in December and comes ahead of a scheduled state visit by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on April 26. The Quad summit in Sydney is set to be an important event for the four nations involved as they seek to strengthen their strategic partnership and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
India and US have been increasing their cooperation on different fronts. The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology, which was launched last month by national security advisors Jake Sullivan and Ajit K Doval at the White House, is key for the two countries to create a democratic technology ecosystem.
The initiative is aimed at elevating and expanding the strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between the governments, businesses and academic institutions of the two countries. The move is also viewed by the US as a way to reduce India’s age-old reliance on Russian defence equipment and counter China’s incursions within sovereign borders.
The Boeing-Air India deal was another milestone in US-India relations where Biden asserted that together with Prime Minister Modi, he was looking forward to deepening the ties between India and the US.
Boeing and Tata Group-owned Air India have reached an agreement under which the airline will purchase 190 B737 MAX, 20 B787, and 10 B777X for a total of 220 firm orders valued at USD 34 billion at the list price.