US-India Partnership Is One Of Its Most Consequential Ones: US Govt Ahead Of PM Modi's Visit

While addressing a press conference, Patel said that the US works with India on several vital priorities and this state visit of PM Modi is an opportunity to strengthen the bond, reported PTI.

US State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel speaks during the daily press briefing at the State Department in Washington, United States ( Image Source :Getty )

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official state visit to the United States, principal deputy spokesperson for the US Department of State Vedant Patel on Monday said that America's partnership with India is one of its most consequential relationships. While addressing a press conference, Patel said that the US works with India on several vital priorities and this state visit of PM Modi is an opportunity to strengthen the bond, reported PTI. He said that State Department and Secretary Antony Blinken are critically involved in the upcoming state visit for PM Modi.

Patel said, "Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential and of course, deepening our trade relationship is a key priority and has been one as it relates to our partnership with India. Of course, another key component of this is our deep cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties as we are both democracies."

Talking about India's role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, Patel said, "The state visit is an opportunity to deepen some of these partnerships, whether it be ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific and ensuring that it is a region that is more connected, more prosperous, more secure and more resilient. Obviously, between India and the United States, there exists an opportunity to deepen trade issues, deepen security partnerships.”

“There is an opportunity to address some shared global challenges like global health and addressing the climate crisis. So again, I am not going to get ahead of the state visit, but we very much look forward to hosting the Indian government," Patel said.

Patel during the conference said, "We of course are in constant communication with our partners at the White House on things like state visits and visits by foreign dignitaries and things of that sort. But I am not going to get into the specific deliberations beyond that. And like I said, our partnership with India is one of the most consequential and it is why we are very much looking forward to hosting them in a state visit next month."

Earlier, the White House in a statement announced that US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host PM Modi for an official state visit next month.

The statement released by the White House read, "President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Republic of India for an Official State Visit to the United States, which will include a state dinner, on June 22, 2023."

It will be PM Modi's first visit to the US after Joe Biden became President. The prime minister visited Washington in September 2021 to attend the first in-person Quad Leaders Summit. Modi had a bilateral meeting with Biden during that visit, PTI reported.