The fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a state visit invitation from the US administration—a rare occurrence and the highest level of protocol in the US system—the manner of that welcome, the statements made by both leaders about the future of their inter-governmental relationship, and the decisions made during the visit all suggest that US-India relations are now ready to take another significant step forward.
Only South Korean President Yoon (April 2023) and French President Macron (December 2022) have received state visit invitations from Vice President Biden thus far.
Modi also spoke to a joint session of the US Congress, his second since 2016, reflecting wide crossover support for the partnership with India. Only former British Prime Minister Churchill, former South African President Mandela, and current Israeli Prime Ministers Rabin and Netanyahu have previously had this opportunity.
PM Modi on US-India relations
In his speech to the US Congress, Modi stated that India and the US had “met the test of friendship” and that “the US occupies a special place” in India’s perspective on the world. He mentioned a previously unheard-of degree of trust amongst the leaders in a pre-departure interview.
During the visit, ground-breaking choices in US-India relations were announced. Unprecedented has been used to characterize the knowledge transfer and joint manufacture of the GE Aerospace F-414 jet engine in India.
In what ways have US-India relations been enhanced?
The Defense Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI), which made a similar attempt in 2014, failed. Three US businesses have revealed investments in the Indian semiconductor ecosystem: Micron, Applied Materials, and Lam Research. In India’s attempts in this area, this was the first significant advancement in more than a year.
With two Indian companies, the US Department of Defense Space Force has penned its first international collaborative research and development agreement.
A $2 million joint fund for the collaborative creation and commercialization of quantum and artificial intelligence technologies, as well as the joint funding of 35 creative joint research partnerships in emerging technologies, were also forthcoming as significant decisions for the effort in essential and emerging technologies.
Additionally, a structure has been established for additional consolidation. A roadmap for defense industry cooperation has been signed by the two. A Security issue has been the subject of first discussions.
A network of universities, startups, businesses, and think tanks called the US-India Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) was established on June 21 to “enable joint defense technology innovation and coproduction of advanced defense technology.”
An earlier conversation had been started on new areas of the military, such as space and artificial intelligence. “The close defense partnership between India and America symbolizes mutual trust and common strategic priorities,” Modi stated during his news conference.
In order to launch a collaborative mission to the International Space Station in 2024, there was agreement to collaborate on human space travel.
The two nations’ national security advisers launched iCET in January of this year, opening the door for all of these recent areas of cooperation. That served as a signal to the governments, corporations, and academic institutions of both nations that closer cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and semiconductors is to be sought from the standpoint of national security.
The collaboration is now mutually beneficial. VSK Energy, JSW Steel, and Epsilon Carbon Limited, three Indian businesses, have made additional $2 billion investments in the US, according to a joint statement released on June 22.
It is obvious that the two nations are poised to raise their wagers on one another. But difficulties will still exist. Technology “will play an important role in deepening the partnership,” according to the joint statement released on June 22. For this reason, regulatory obstacles must be continually addressed and removed.
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