White House: India will be a critical strategic partner

Kirby, Coordinator of Strategic Communications for the White House National Security Council, responded to questions from reporters at the US State Department’s Foreign Press Center by saying that President Joe Biden will receive the Indian Prime Minister , Narendra Modi, who will pay an official visit to the US, Kirby stressed that this visit will confirm the “deep and close partnership” between the two countries.

Kirby stated that they support India’s emergence as a “great power” in line with US interests in the coming years, adding that “India will be a critical strategic partner for the US for years to come.” he said.

Noting that there is “robust defense cooperation” between the US and India, Kirby said that they will continue to work to develop this cooperation in the field of defense.

Kirby said that in this context, the leaders of the two countries will discuss cooperation issues related to new technologies in the cyber and space field.

UKRAINE-RUSSIA WAR

Noting that Ukraine will also be on the agenda for Biden’s meeting with Modi, Kirby responded that they would welcome the question of third country involvement in a possible peace process in Ukraine.

On the other hand, Kirby stressed that for this process to be successful, the commitment to the territorial integrity of Ukraine must be accepted.

Co-ordinator Kirby said that when it comes to India’s oil imports from Russia, capping works and he expects India to continue buying oil in this price range.

THE STATE OF MUSLIMS IN INDIA

When asked about human rights violations against Muslims in India, Kirby said: “Democracy is hard. We know that we have witnessed this firsthand in this country. (Democracy) is difficult, you have to work on it. India also has a vibrant democracy and they are working on it.” he made the comment of him.

Kirby, arguing that President Biden has never hesitated to express his concern for human rights, will not do so this week, but he assessed that this does not mean that other areas that need to be developed in bilateral relations are not addressed.

“NO DEAL WITH IRAN”

Regarding the allegations that there is a deal between Iran and the US, Kirby said: “There is no deal to speak of. We will continue to speak with the Iranians about the Americans detained in their country.” he said.

THE VISIT OF MODI CAN BE A TURNING POINT

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is traveling to the United States for a four-day visit, will start his diplomatic talks tomorrow.

Modi, who will attend celebrations in New York tomorrow as part of International Yoga Day, will be welcomed by US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden in Washington for dinner.

On June 22, a welcome ceremony in honor of Modi will be held at the White House with the participation of more than a thousand people. Following the ceremony, Modi will have a high-level meeting with Biden.

During the meeting, a decision is expected to be made to increase cooperation in economy, technology and supply chain between the two countries.

After the bilateral meeting, Modi will speak at the joint session of Congress at the invitation of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Modi will be the third president to speak twice in the US Congress.

After the address to Congress, Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, will host a state dinner in Modi’s honour. Members of Congress, diplomats and celebrities are expected to participate in the dinner, which is expected to be attended by hundreds of people.

Modi is also expected to meet with businessman Elon Musk during the visit.

On June 23, Modi will have lunch with Vice President Kamala Harris and Foreign Minister Antony Blinken. Modi is expected to meet top executives and the Indian diaspora at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on the same day.

THE TWO COUNTRIES SEEK TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONS

Modi’s visit is interpreted as the willingness of the two countries to strengthen their mutual relations.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal about the visit, Modi said US-India relations are stronger than ever. Stating that India and the US have an unprecedented relationship of trust, Modi said that India deserves a much higher, deeper and broader profile.

Indian Foreign Minister Vinay Mohan Kwatra also said in a statement that Modi’s visit to the United States was “a turning point in relations between the two countries.”

Biden’s invitation to Modi brings to mind the question of whether new equilibria are forming in the Asia-Pacific due to the newly growing mutual relations and discourses.

Experts say that the acceleration of relations between the two countries in many areas, especially in the defense industry, economy and military cooperation during the Biden period, is a success for the US, which wants to turn the center of gravity in the balance in the Indo-Pacific region in your favor.

Ankara University Center for Research and Application of Asia-Pacific Studies (APAM) Deputy Director Associate Professor Dr. Yalçın Kayalı, speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), said that the US gave the message that it can “take India with you whenever you want” against China and Russia, allies of the aforementioned visit.

Kayalı said that while India has been pursuing a policy of balance and stability in Asia-Pacific to this day, the latest events have been a turning point in terms of Indian foreign policy.

Saying he hopes the US will stand with India, which is growing in the world economy, to play an active role in world politics and increase its influence in Asia-Pacific, Kayalı said Russia is uncomfortable with the rapprochement. between India and the US

US accuses China of “expansionism”

International relations experts, who agree that the US is reaching out to India to create a balance against China’s growing power in the region and increase its influence in the Indo-Pacific, Biden invited Modi and the talks high level before. the visit in question was discussed considers that it was on purpose.

Expressing that the US is looking for a partner for its economic presence in Asia, Kayalı said the Washington administration wants to see India, which is becoming stronger politically and economically and whose defense industry is developing, on its side.

Kayali, “He wants to use India as a bully against China.” he performed the assessment of it.

US officials, who frequently emphasize China’s “expansionary policies”, accuse Beijing of disturbing the peace and balance in the region.

Saying that Modi’s visit symbolizes “the strength of a suprapolitical relationship between the US and India”, US House of Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi said: “The US and India must join forces to create a viable alternative to the model authoritarianism that China has presented to the world in lieu of democracy.” he had used the phrase.

Strengthening the supply chains of pharmaceuticals, chips and other critical items in an emergency in the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), as well as its military might in the region, had been reached agreements.

INDIA’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS RUSSIA

It is believed that one of the main reasons for the strengthening of US-India relations during the Biden era is the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Assessing the Russia-Ukraine war in the Wall Street Journal, Modi said his country “stands on the side of peace.”

Stating that countries should respect international law and sovereignty, Modi said that problems should not be solved through war but through diplomacy and dialogue.

The US wants to increase its market effectiveness in the arms and defense industry by attracting India, which currently imports most of its military equipment from Russia.

This year, India has become the most populous country in the world, surpassing China in terms of population.

The fact that India is also one of the fastest growing economies in the world means a significant market opportunity for the US.

The United States sells maritime patrol planes, C-130 transport planes, missiles and UAVs to India.

RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES PROVIDE BENEFITS TO INDIA

The US is currently India’s largest trading partner and the volume of trade between the two countries has been increasing in recent years.

In addition to the volume of trade between the two countries, which was 150 billion dollars in 2021, the fact that approximately 200,000 Indian students continue to study in the US of Indian origin, reveals the strong ties between the two countries.

In addition, India can access new technologies in the defense industry thanks to the improvement of its relations with the United States. Prior to the visit, India’s Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) had approved the purchase of 31 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) worth $3 billion from the US.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Modi described cooperation with the US in the field of defense industry as “an important pillar of our partnership.” (AA)