US, India share ‘most important bilateral relationship on planet’: Top White House official after Modi’s state visit

Campbell said it is no more a secret that “India is one of the most sought after players on the global stage”. “You see a number of countries seeking to build deeper, more consequential relationships in trade and technology and people-to-people with India. And I’m just happy to say that the United States has taken its own step to develop much further the relationship between the two sides,” he stated in the interview with ANI.

Campbell added that both the countries leave with a long list of to-do list but “a much better sense of confidence on what to do.”

Responding to a question regarding the comments on democracy and human rights in India, Campbell said, “PM Modi is one of the most effective, successful, popular democratically elected leaders on the planet. This far into his tenure he is extremely popular in India. In the real sense he has the agenda of bringing India into the 21st century. Every society, including the US and India has challenges and its problems. Each of our countries is imperfect and I don’t think the US can or should be in a position where it lectures any other country.”

On the fear among Indian diplomatic community in the US

Campbell condemned Khalistani attack on Indian Consulate in San Francisco and said the US authorities have been in close contact with both Indian authorities and the local law enforcement. “These are deeply regrettable events. We take very seriously the safety and security of diplomats that are living in the US. We are trying to take necessary steps to ensure that Indian diplomatic community feels safe and secure here and will continue with their work,” he told ANI.

Talking about Biden-Modi internal deliberations, Campbell said President Biden sought to suggest that for India to meet its full potential, it would need to be an example on a number of fronts. “I think the message was delivered with respect and it was heard in that way. One of the things that I have found of quite inspirational is the level of trust and confidence between Modi and Biden, that is something that is important and will proceed to build on,” he said.

On Russia-Ukraine war

On India’s “nuanced position” on Russia, the Deputy Assistant to the US President and Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific affairs said, “We see a lot of signs of India taking principled stands. PM Modi has clearly spoken out about the devastation and the tragedy of what’s happening to the Ukrainian people. I think Indian friends & colleagues are quite concerned about the war in Ukraine and believe that Russia has conducted this war terribly on many levels…”

Campbell mentioned there is also acknowledgment that one of the things that animates India’s thinking about Russia is a kind of loyalty. He added that the US has been working actively with India to diversify its supply of nuclear equipment.

On strategic ties with China

“Yes, the China dimension is important to both our countries but it is not enough to take us to where we want to go in this relationship. There are many other elements that have driven us forward. I think most of those were on full display when Prime Minister Modi visited,” Campbell told ANI in response to a question about the connections between India, China and the US.

PM Modi’s three-day state visit to the US, his first in nine years, included at least three meetings with President Joe Biden, an address to members of the US Congress, and interactions with some of Silicon Valley’s top CEOs.

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