PM Modi's US Visit: Support India's Emergence As A Great Power, Says White House

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said they were looking to improve and deepen the defence cooperation between India and US.

PM Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden

Source : Getty

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on said US supports India's "emergence as a great power" as Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his official State visit to the nation. Kirby said US was looking to improve and deepen the defence cooperation between India and US.

"This is a big week here at the White House. This visit will affirm the strong ties between our two countries and elevate our strategic partnership," Kirby said in a media briefing.

The White House official said PM Modi's visit will strengthen the shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo Pacific.

"With Indians, we believe in a safe, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, so it makes sense to look for ways to improve our defence cooperation," Kirby said.

On India's oil purchase from Russia despite sanctions by the US over its invasion of Ukraine, Kirby said, "India is a key and important partner for the United States. If you just look ahead, it’s safe to say that it is going to be the most defining relationship well into the future."

Defence partnership will take the centre-stage during the bilateral talks between PM Modi and US President Joe Biden. Last week, the Ministry of Defence approved a $3 billion deal to procure 30 armed Predator drones from the US. PM's visit to US is expected to announce the agreement along with a deal to manufacture GE’s fighter jet engines in India.

PM Modi reached New York on the first leg of his US visit on Tuesday night. He will lead the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the United Nations Headquarters with the UN leadership and members of the international community on June 21.

Before the Yoga Day event, PM Modi will meet over two dozen leaders from various walks of life, including entrepreneur and Tesla and Twitter owner Elon Musk, astrophysicist and author Neil deGrasse Tyson and Nobel laureate economist Paul Romer.

Other notable personalities Modi will meet are author Nicholas Nassim Taleb and investor Ray Dalio, Falu Shah, Jeff Smith, Michael Froman, Daniel Russel, Elbridge Colby, Peter Agre, Stephen Klasko and Chandrika Tandon, PTI reported.

PM Modi, who is visiting US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, will depart on June 24.

The Bidens will host Modi at a State dinner on June 22. The visit also includes an address by PM Modi to the joint session of the US Congress on June 22.