President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have appeared to be at odds with their respective country positions at the
Paris climate summit, but the White House heaped praise on Modi on Wednesday, calling him an “effective Prime Minister” who has “a clear vision” for his country.
“President (Obama) certainly does respect Prime Minister Modi and has appreciation for his skills and abilities as a politician,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said while replying to a question in the context of their recent meeting in Paris.
Earnest went on to say that Obama has found Modi as “somebody who is honest and direct, somebody who has good command of the facts, somebody who has a clear understanding of the issues that confront his country and our relationship”.
“He is also somebody that has a clear vision for where he wants to take his country.
“And that makes him not just an effective politician but an effective Prime Minister,” Earnest said, adding President Obama has had the opportunity to consult with PM Modi on a number of occasions.
“And I think that isn’t just a testament to their good working relationship — it actually is a testament to the important issues that are at stake between our two countries.
“And the ability of the leaders of our two countries to work through those issues and to advance our shared interests is a good thing — it’s a good thing for the world, it’s also a good thing for the citizens of our two countries,” Earnest added even as the stage is getting set in Paris for tough negotiations on a global climate deal.