US Congressmen Ro Khanna and Michael Waltz wrote a letter to the US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday urging him to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deliver a joint address to the Congress during his first state visit to the US. Khanna and Waltz wrote the letter in their capacity as Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. The Prime Minister will be visiting the US on June 22 following an invitation from US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, reported news agency ANI.
The letter read, "We respectfully request your consideration in inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a joint address to Congress, highlighting the significance of the US-India strategic partnership and the shared values upon which it is built." It further read, "As State Dinners have come to signify the President's utmost respect for visiting heads of state, granting a joint address to Congress is a commensurate honour for the leader of the world's largest democracy and perhaps the most critical partner to countering China in the 21st century," Khanna and Waltz wrote in the letter."
The two lawmakers laid out the importance of strengthening the bilateral relationship between the United States and India, and the importance of highlighting the partnership by granting a joint address to the Congress.
The White House on Tuesday said that the visit of PM Modi will be an opportunity to reaffirm the deep, close partnership between both nations.
ANI quoted the White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre as saying that PM Modi's visit "will be an opportunity to reaffirm the deep and close partnership between the United States and India and the warm bonds of the family and friendship that link America, Americans and clearly, Indians together. And so that's very important to the (US) President."
As per Pierre, this visit will also strengthen US-India shared commitment to an open, free, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific. She also shared a resolve to evaluate strategic technology partnerships, including in defence, clean energy, and space.
As per the letter, the foundation on which the US-India partnership lies is in the shared commitment to democracy and the upholding of a rules-based international system. It said, "With mutual interests in promoting global security, stability, and economic prosperity through trade, investment, and connectivity, the United States and India have forged a deep bond. The recent in-person bilateral meetings between President Biden and Prime Minister Modi have reaffirmed our dedication to a resilient international order that safeguards sovereignty, upholds democratic values, and promotes peace and prosperity for all. Furthermore, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, involving the United States, India, Japan, and Australia, has provided a platform for our countries to engage in meaningful discussions on shared regional and global security interests. The United States recognizes and supports India's emergence as a leading global power and a vital partner in safeguarding the Indo-Pacific region as a place of peace, stability, and growing prosperity."
The letter said that both nations have established cooperation in various fields through dialogues like the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and these dialogues cover a wide range of areas such as space, health, energy, counterterrorism, climate action, cybersecurity, education, trade policies, defence, and counternarcotics efforts, reported ANI.
The letter further stated, "The strength of our strategic partnership is further amplified by the strong people-to-people ties between our nations. The four million-strong Indian American diaspora and vibrant educational exchanges between our countries exemplify the deep connection and potential for collaboration. Such ties are a tremendous source of strength and serve as a solid foundation for our strategic partnership. We believe that a joint address to Congress would provide an invaluable opportunity for members on both sides of the aisle to engage in constructive dialogue on matters of mutual interest and concern. We sincerely appreciate your attention to this matter and your unwavering dedication to serving our great nation. We firmly believe that inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deliver a joint address to Congress would further strengthen the deep and enduring friendship between the United States and India."
If invited by McCarthy, this would be the second address by Modi to the joint session of the Congress, making him one of the few world leaders who had the opportunity to address American lawmakers twice, according to PTI.