Modi-Biden Joint Address – Harbinger of a New Era of Indo-US Ties 

• India doesn’t discriminate on the basis of race, caste or religion. We are a democracy and democracy runs in our veins, says Prime Minister Modi
• India is a democracy, it is in our DNA, we live democracy, and our ancestors gave us the constitution which is based on democracy: Indian PM Narendra Modi
• Together, the United States and India – the world’s oldest and largest democracies – are a combined force for global good – Biden
• The friendship between our 2 people will only be going to grow – President Biden
• We do not believe in the exploitation of nature. Of all the G20 countries, India is the only one to fulfil promises made at the summit: Indian PM Narendra Modi
• Trade and investment partnership between India and America is important not only for us but for the world at large: Indian PM Narendra Modi

The Joint Address of the two leaders was important as the world watched another example of the close relationship both the President of the United States of America and the Prime Minister of India enjoy. The bilateral meeting exceeded the time limit as it was originally kept, showing an indication that the two leaders were in a deep discussion around multiple aspects that allows a convergence between both democracies. The White House had an excitement when the PM arrived for his meeting with the president and that seems to have continued both in the meeting of the two leaders as well as their respective delegations. Naysayers would use multiple narratives to try and downplay this meeting but optics suggest a different progress in ties between India and the US.

As the two leaders came from their landmark meeting, President Joe Biden started the joint address. He mentioned the importance of economic ties that are maintained by virtue of a robust citizen-to-citizen connection between the two nations. He spoke in favour of their diplomacy which has similar goals when it comes to fulfilling agendas set in the United Nations for multiple events around the world. President Biden spoke about the importance of Quad alongside strategic partners like Japan and Australia. An important mention included the I2U2 alliance that includes Israel and the United Arab Emirates and spoke of its importance in the West Asian region.  President Biden also highlighted joint partnerships in the environmental sector and around Green Energy. Around 2 billion investments have been agreed upon in this meeting with trade doubling since the last decade or so. An important mention of space missions collaboration was made by Biden as well. The President finished his speech as he observed just how important the contribution of 4 million Indian Americans is in their society and economy. 

When it came to the Prime Minister, he started his speech by thanking the hospitality of the American president and stated that a ‘new era of partnership’ has begun. He announced that America is India’s biggest trading partner ahead of China as well. The Prime Minister spoke about how India and US are collaborating with technological sharing which will benefit areas around Artificial intelligence, Semiconductors sector.  Space explorations, Quantum, and Telecom. The Prime Minister mentioned companies like Micron, and Google, which have decided to invest in India’s future as he met many CEOs and held discussions and received their appreciation for India. The PM focused on strategic technological partnership which involves Government, Business, and Academic involvements between both nations. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of ‘Green energy’ sources like Green hydrogen, wind, carbon, battery, etc. He announced that both nations will work to establish a Global Renewable Energy Supply Chain. The Prime Minister proclaimed that the kind of ‘Old relationships’ shared by both nations were the times of the past. Today, both nations indulge in co-development, co-production, and common intelligence with an emphasis on the security and startups of both nations. Prime Minister Modi announced that India has decided to join the NASA Artemis accords for space collaboration which was followed by his statement that ‘Sky is not the limit‘.

The Prime Minister further continued his speech on the importance of people-to-people ties where 40 Lakh Indian Americans are the strength of this bilateral relationship. This remark was followed by another important announcement that Bengaluru in Karnataka and Ahmedabad in Gujarat will have 2 new US consulates to facilitate visas and other issues between the two nations. Seattle in the US will have an Indian consulate for the same. PM Modi again stressed the importance of the Indo-Pacific for the whole world and why their engagement with all nations in this area is of significance. The Prime Minister mentioned a point of convergence of interests against Terrorism and radicalism and stated that both nations will engage together. 

The Prime Minister mentioned Covid and Ukraine crises as two major events that have affected the Global South and stated that both India and the US decided to unite all nations to help them in any way they can. The Modi government like always, stressed that India has always advocated for dialogue and diplomacy for the crisis in Ukraine. Finally, the PM thanked the American support for including Africa as a G20 member. He stated that both of them want world peace and can carry those aspirations of the world together. 

Questions and Responses 

As soon as the statements ended, two questions were allowed as the Indian Prime Minister is scheduled to speak in the US Congress. The first question came from the Wall Street Journal where a question was raised to President Biden about Human rights and issues of democracy in India raised by Democrats. What’s the view of POTUS and are they overlooking?

President Biden answered that they had a good discussion around it and they respect each other diplomatically. Biden stressed the common democratic character and tolerance that is shared by both nations and further stated that  America and India have the same DNA. He further said that the whole world has a say in their strategic policy. 

The same question was asked of the Prime Minister with a few additions as ‘Human rights groups’ say that India indulges in discrimination despite being the largest democracy. What steps are you taking for religious minorities like Muslims?

The Prime Minister was more elaborate and firm in his response. PM Modi expressed his surprise that people say it’s a democracy. He repeated what Biden said, that democracy is in our DNA and spirit. The PM highlighted how their ancestors have put it in words for millions of years. The PM stated that India works on the basis of their Constitution and doesn’t favour any caste, gender, religion, or creed. He further elaborated that if there are no human rights, then there is no democracy and reminded us how India has actually fought for the democracy of many nations as well. He ended his answer that there is no room for discrimination and repeated the slogan of the BJP – Sabh ka saath, Sabh ka Vikas, Sabh ka vishwas.

The second question posed to both  President Biden and Prime Minister Modi was on Climate change. The reporter from the Press Trust Of India said that a view accuses climate change of having long and non-achievable goals. The President stated climate Change is the ‘Most serious problem’ and has discussed it. He stated that both leaders focus on Cheaper and more expensive available global energy. Biden stated that both leaders are working on the supply chain which will bear fruit by 2033. Around long-standing goals, the President stated that goals are not just for India and the US but for the world as well. The President also discussed the importance of solar energy and repeated the support his  Climate bill needs to solve this issue.

The Prime Minster spoke at length about how India values the environment and climate with its culture and stated that it’s part of the Hindu faith. He said that exploitation of the environment is directly proportional to global instability. PM Modi reminded us how India is taking a global initiative in G20, fulfilling the Paris Accords promise, targets of achieving Solar energy of 500 GW in Glasgow fulfilled etc. The Prime Minister made an ambitious objective that by 2030, they will achieve the Indian railways’ goal of net zero carbon emissions. He recalled how large the Railway network is and stated India’s success in fulfilling its environmental goals well before time. The International Solar Alliance launched by India was highlighted by PM Modi and he stated that many countries are with them in this with assurances given to many countries about India’s support of them in energy sources. The PM recalled that in Glasgow, India launched Mission Life with the UN General Secretary which focuses on every individual developing themselves for the sake of conserving the world. The Prime Minister finished his answer by saying that the future matters and India will continue to work for the future generations, to save the world.

Conclusion

As we wait for the Prime Minister’s session in the Congress, one must observe the kind of tone and rhetoric set by both nations to send signals across the world. This visit has surely been seen by everyone, especially Russia and China and there has been no controversy around it. The questions around human rights showed how vested interests remain whenever India and US look at their relationship. However, one matured change we see is that the United States perhaps have been warmer and more welcoming of the Indian strategic autonomy in its foreign interest. The US will, albeit with curiosity or a grudge accept and make use of pumped-up India to challenge China’s rise and see if they can hinder it. India is the perfect player for that strategy as it enjoys excellent ties with Russia and can have the ability in the opinion of the States, to balance against China as well. The US does need India because it finally understood the loopholes in Asia’s background. 

For India, it’s another diplomatic optical objective fulfilled and the only Indian Head of state that addresses the congress for the second time, the Prime Minister has left no stone unturned to increase his popularity as well as the popularity of the country with actual dividends they receive from the US. India understands the geopolitical game better than the rest and doesn’t change its script and strategy one bit. India needs the US as well and it continues to successfully do that while placating its natural allies in the Kremlin. India is the only exception that the US keeps when it enjoys close ties with both nations that are drawn against each other today.

_{(Anhad Jakhmola is a postgraduate scholar in international relations. He has his undergraduate degree in history and is pursuing his PhD in Defence and Strategic Studies.)}