An Expert Weighs In: PM Modi’s visit takes India-US ties to another level, says Arun K Singh, fmr Ambassador to the US

He also showcased efforts and progress made in India in digital inclusion, women’s empowerment, social welfare schemes such as health insurance and housing, and in fintech.

He also spoke about the global benefits from deeper US-India partnership.

How beneficial has this visit been to India in terms of concrete gains?

There were several concrete gains for India.

It reiterated US recognition of India as an important global power that it seeks to deepen relations with.

There was decision on an unprecedented transfer of GE F414 jet engine technology and co-production in India.

Several US companies such as Micron, Applied Materials, and Lam Research announced investments for semiconductor testing and assembly facility, engineering collaboration, and training of relevant workforce.

The US Space Force announced an agreement with two Indian startups in defence. Several other agreements were indicated in defence, and in critical and emerging technologies.

Where does this visit stand in the trajectory of India-US ties since the early 2000s?

It takes India-US ties to another level.

Relations have progressed since 2000 with every US President and Indian PM. One pathbreaking development was the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, that started the process of easing restrictions on India’s access to higher-level defence and dual use technologies in the US. Till then India hardly bought any defence supplies from the US, but has now contracted to buy more than $20 billion worth.

Through this visit and the new agreements in defence, and critical and emerging technologies, cooperation will be possible at much higher levels.

In what respects is this visit different from the 2016 visit by the PM, during which he addressed a joint sitting of Congress for the first time?

In 2016, it was an Official Visit, not a State level visit. The protocol of a ceremonial welcome in the South Lawns of the White House, State Dinner, and lunch hosted by Vice President and Secretary of State had been absent at that time.

Also developments since then, such as the US declaring India as a Major Defense Partner later in 2016, and putting India at Strategic Trade Authorization Level 1 (STA-1) for technology releases on par with its NATO allies, took the relationship to a level where ground was now laid for new initiatives in defense and iCET.

What message does Prime Minister Modi’s speech have for Russia, China, and Pakistan?

While building the US partnership, India has to maintain the strategic autonomy of its decisions, and take positions on global issues mindful of its own interests.

There was no direct criticism of Russia, but there was a reiteration of positions that this was not an era of war, issues should be resolved peacefully, and that sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries must be sustained.

There was no specific reference to China, but by implication criticism of its actions in the East and South China Seas, and generation of unsustainable debt in developing countries through its non-viable projects.

There was inherent criticism of Pakistan by reference to need for action against perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks, and support some provide to terrorism.

Arun K Singh was India’s Ambassador in Washington DC through 2015-16, including at the time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his first address to the joint sitting of Congress in June 2016. Before that, Singh was Deputy Chief of Mission from October 2008 to April 2013. Ambassador Singh saw the working of the Obama Administration closely at a time when then Vice President Joe Biden played an important role in the shaping of US policy towards India.