US President Joe Biden plans to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a state dinner this summer as reported by ndtv.com.
The state dinner is likely to be held in June but the timing could be changed, according to people familiar with the matter. The formal visit marks the deepening of bilateral ties between India and the US as the White House aims for a free and open Indo-Pacific in a bid to counter the growing influence of China in the region.
The two leaders are also expected to meet in Sydney in May for the Quad summit along with heads of Japan and Australia. Biden had previously hosted French President Emmanuel Macron in December while a state visit by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is scheduled on April 26.
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.
