Prior to his official state visit to the United States on June 20, PM Modi spoke with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). In an hour-long interview at his official residence in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi discussed a variety of topics, including India’s foreign policy, relations with the US, a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, luring foreign investment, the conflict in Ukraine, and the on-going dispute with China.
PM Modi praises the US-UK relationship as solid.
In the interview, Prime Minister Modi stated that “relationships between New Delhi and Washington are stronger and deeper than ever as India moves to secure its rightful place on the world stage at a time of geopolitical turmoil.”
PM Modi continued, “There is an unprecedented trust” between the presidents of India and the United States. He also praised the two nations’ expanding defence collaboration, calling it “an important pillar of our partnership” that encompasses trade, technology, and energy.
Several significant defense-related announcements are anticipated to be made during this first official state visit. These include the US allowing General Electric to produce fighter jet engines in India, paying $3 billion for 31 armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones made by General Atomics, and finally removing US barriers that have impeded more seamless trade in defence and advanced technology.
Furthermore, India is projected to gain access to important US technologies as a result of this eagerly awaited trip. It’s crucial to remember that the US only occasionally shares such crucial technologies with friends. This emphasises the close relations between the two countries, which are deeply rooted in both the business and economic spheres as well as in world politics.
The WSJ report also stated that despite its tensions with Moscow and Beijing, the US is strengthening its ties with India. The paper emphasises that despite the oil trade between India and Russia, which they believe is “financially supporting” Moscow.
Deep economic links are one of the main reasons why relations between India and the U.S. have improved recently. In 2022, the two countries’ bilateral trade reached a historic $191 billion, making India the United States’ biggest trading partner. Additionally, the U.S. is among the top five investment destinations for Indian investors and is the third-largest generator of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) into India.
India’s involvement in geopolitics and foreign policy
In his WSJ interview, PM Modi made it very clear that India’s time has come, citing both the country’s contributions to the world economy and its position in international affairs. The PM positioned New Delhi as the obvious leader of the global South, empowering the voice of developing nations whose goals have long been disregarded.
He declared that “India deserves a much higher, deeper, and wider profile and a role.”
The WSJ reported that Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy differs from that of Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s nonalignment (NAM). Modi’s foreign policy, it was further stated, is one of many alignments, attempting to advance India’s interests in collaboration with a variety of powerful nations, including those at odds with one another.
According to the WSJ study, Modi is one of India’s most well-liked prime ministers, and his support is strong ahead of the country’s upcoming elections.
PM Modi requests UN reform.
PM Modi demanded transformation in international organisations, including the UN, in an interview with a US media outlet. He added that these bodies needed to better reflect the concerns of the world’s less developed countries, including issues like the effects of climate change and debt relief.
