Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to India after a whirlwind three-day visit to the United States, concluding a trip described as “successful and substantial” by the Ministry of External Affairs. His itinerary was packed with high-profile events, including the Quad Leaders’ Summit, bilateral meetings with key allies, and a powerful address to the UN General Assembly.
Modi’s visit began in Wilmington, Delaware, where he participated in the Quad Leaders’ Summit, hosted by US President Joe Biden. The summit, a platform for the four nations – India, the United States, Japan, and Australia – to coordinate on key issues in the Indo-Pacific, saw the announcement of significant initiatives. These included the Quad Cancer Moonshot, a partnership aimed at combating cancer in the region, and MAITRI, a regional maritime training initiative designed to enhance maritime domain awareness and security.
Bilateral meetings with his Japanese and Australian counterparts on the sidelines of the summit highlighted India’s commitment to strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. Modi and Biden also met for a bilateral meeting, during which they discussed boosting reciprocal military hardware supply and welcomed progress towards India procuring 31 MQ-9B armed drones from General Atomics. The meeting was also marked by the return of 297 antiquities to India, a poignant symbol of cultural cooperation.
Moving on to New York, Modi engaged with the vibrant Indian-American community at a massive gathering at the Nassau Coliseum. He lauded their contributions to strengthening the India-US relationship, calling them India’s brand ambassadors. Addressing the community, Modi underscored India’s ambition to become the world’s third largest economy, emphasizing the vast opportunities for collaboration between the two nations. He also announced the opening of two new Indian consulates in Boston and Los Angeles, a move aimed at better serving the needs of the growing Indian-American diaspora.
In a further effort to strengthen economic ties, Modi met with CEOs of leading American technology companies, urging them to capitalize on India’s growth story. The meeting, held on the sidelines of his visit, focused on fostering collaborations across various sectors, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and semiconductors.
Modi’s final engagement was a powerful speech at the UN General Assembly’s ‘Summit of the Future’, where he emphasized the importance of collective strength for humanity’s success. He also underscored India’s commitment to global prosperity and the protection of human rights.
Modi’s US visit served as a platform to reinforce India’s role as a key player in the Indo-Pacific and to showcase its burgeoning economic potential. The visit also showcased the strong bonds between India and the US, built on shared values and a commitment to global cooperation.
