Indian PM at White House: New World Order is taking shape.
According to Al Jazeera, US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a short press conference on Thursday during Modi’s official visit to the United States.
In this press conference, Biden said in response to the criticism that his administration ignored Modi’s violation of human rights: “The prime minister and I had a good discussion about democratic values, and this is a common democratic feature of both our countries.”
He said: I believe that the whole world has a stake in our success to preserve our democracies.
In this press conference, Modi, who rarely answers reporters’ questions, said: When you talk about democracy, if there are no human values in it, and there is no humanity, there are no human rights in it, then it is not democracy.
In Washington, both leaders welcomed the need for a strong partnership in the coming years, with concerns about stability in the Indo-Pacific — and countering China’s growing influence.
Biden said that the bond between the two countries will be the defining relationship of the 21st century.
Speaking in Hindi, Modi described the meeting as an honor for India’s 1.4 billion people and said a new world order was taking shape.
Modi also told reporters: Peace and security in the Pacific and India is a common priority. We agree that the development and success of this region is important for the whole world.
Modi has visited the US five times since becoming prime minister in 2014, but this trip is his first with full diplomatic status.
Al Jazeera reported Thursday from Washington, D.C., that since Biden took office, only one other leader has been given such a lavish reception with a state dinner and a speech to Congress.
However, 75 Democratic lawmakers have pressed the Biden administration to address human rights concerns in India during the trip.
On Thursday, former US President Barack Obama said that if the rights of the Muslim minority were not respected, India would be at risk of “disintegration”.
In an interview with CNN’s Christine Amanpour, Obama said, “I think it’s right that if the president meets with Prime Minister Modi, then he also talks about supporting the Muslim minority in Hindu-majority India.”
The US also wants India to reduce its ties with Moscow, including to stop relying on Russian arms exports. India has remained neutral in the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine, abstaining from a UN vote condemning the invasion.
In remarks on Thursday, Biden said the two leaders discussed “joint efforts to reduce the humanitarian tragedies caused by Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine and defend the core principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity under the United Nations Charter.”
Modi also said: India has emphasized resolving the dispute through dialogue and diplomacy. We are fully prepared to contribute in any way we can to restore peace.
During the meeting, the leaders of the United States and India signed an agreement that allows General Electric (GE) to manufacture fighter jet engines in India and supply Indian military aircraft. The company announced on Thursday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Aviation Corporation to manufacture these engines.
In addition, according to the agreement between the two sides, US Navy ships in the region can stop for repairs at Indian shipyards based on the maritime agreement.
