India and the US are likely to discuss the final agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talks with President Joe Biden later this month in Washington during a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday and Wednesday between National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan.
This crucial visit follows US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s recent discussions with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in India, seemingly laying the groundwork for significant defense-related announcements expected after Modi’s meeting with Biden. Austin also engaged in detailed discussions with Doval, marking his second visit to India, the previous one being in March 2021.
Additionally, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra held talks in Washington with US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland.
India is keen to acquire advanced defense technology from the US, and a potential deal for joint production of GE-414 jet engines for the Tejas light combat aircraft in India may be on the horizon. The specifics of this deal and other proposals involving high-tech products are expected to be ironed out during the discussions between the two NSAs as part of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). NSA Doval initiated the iCET talks during his visit to the US several months ago.
In May 2022, President Biden and Prime Minister Modi announced the US-India iCET with the aim of strengthening strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation between the two countries’ governments, businesses, and academic institutions.
Meanwhile, reports from Washington suggest that Prime Minister Modi’s first State visit to the US could be a defining moment for Indo-US relations. Extensive efforts are being made to draft a robust joint statement that will shape the nature and trajectory of the bilateral ties for years to come, according to individuals familiar with the planning of the high-profile trip.
Key areas of focus in the joint statement are expected to include technology, space, and defense, with all sectors having a personal touch from Prime Minister Modi, who emphasises their linkage to development and welfare. Both leaders believe that the India-US relationship holds global significance, and the outcome document is anticipated to reflect their visions.
The outcome document is likely to feature a concrete set of deliverables, emphasizing cooperation between industries and elevating the trust and confidence between the two countries to an unprecedented level. The visit aims to transform the partnership from India being viewed solely as a big market for American companies to a relationship based on mutual trust and reliability, particularly in the realm of supply chain integration, leveraging India’s scale and affordability with American technology.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to arrive in Washington on June 21 from New York after attending the International Yoga Day celebrations. A grand cultural show organized by hundreds of Indian Americans is planned in front of the White House and Blair House, the official guest house of the US President, as a warm welcome.
Traditionally, the visiting leader is hosted for a private dinner at the President’s residence. The two leaders will then spend two days together, starting with a welcome ceremony on the South Lawns of the White House, anticipated to be one of the largest in history.
Following the ceremony, Biden and Modi will engage in a one-on-one talk followed by a delegation-level meeting in the Cabinet meeting room. Subsequently, Modi will address a joint session of the US Congress presided over by Vice President Kamala Harris. The demand from Indian Americans to attend this historic event is high, and lawmakers are facing challenges in ticket distribution.
Later in the evening, Prime Minister Modi will return to the White House for a State dinner hosted by President Biden and the First Lady. The guest list has not been announced yet. The First Lady has a key role in the preparations. All eyes are on the dinner menu, decor and entertainment.
Harris would host the Prime Minister for lunch on June 23 at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department, which is being co-hosted by the Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the Second Gentleman. The two leaders are likely to deliver remarks during the luncheon.
Interaction with the diaspora and the business community is one of the hallmarks of the Prime Ministers’ overseas trips, which is expected to consume most of the day’s proceedings on June 23.
In between, several Cabinet Ministers in the Biden administration and key leaders are likely to call on the Prime Minister for meetings