The United Sates President, Joe Biden, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi strengthened their partnership with major deals on fighter jet engines, semiconductor investment, and space cooperation, aiming to counterbalance China despite concerns of growing authoritarianism in India.
US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday that the two democracies’ partnership would define the next century, as Washington eyes a counterweight to China and brushes off allegations of growing authoritarianism in New Delhi.
The two nations reached major deals on engines for fighter jets, semiconductor investment, and space cooperation as Biden rolled out the red carpet to Modi for only the third state visit of his presidency.
Later, addressing both chambers of Congress, Modi alluded to US concerns about China as he backed a “free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific,” a favorite phrase of the United States.
“Two great nations, two great friends, and two great powers,” Biden said.
Earlier in the day, in an agreement hailed by Modi as a landmark, the United States signed off on a technology transfer for engines as India begins producing homegrown fighter jets.
Washington hopes a tighter defense relationship will help wean India off Russia, New Delhi’s primary military supplier.
The Biden administration has largely given a pass to India for refusing to join Western sanctions on Russia and instead buying its oil discounted, seeing a broader alignment with India on the challenge of China and the threat of radical Islamism.
In another agreement, US chip giant Micron will invest $800 million in India’s semiconductor assembly and testing plant.
The United States and India also agreed as well to end six disputes before the World Trade Organization and expand cooperation in space, with India joining a US-led initiative to put a human back on the Moon by 2025.
Miroslava Salazar with AFP
