India, U.S. Discuss Narendra Modi White House Visit

4/2/2023 6:19

        The Biden administration is in talks with Indian officials over a possible White House visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this year, according
        to a U.S. official aware of the discussions and another person briefed on the matter.
        
        U.S. President Joe Biden is eager to deepen ties with the world's largest democracy as part of his bid to win what he has framed as a contest between free and autocratic societies, especially China.
        
        The White House and the Indian Embassy in Washington declined to comment.
        
        Dates are not finalized, the sources said. Discussions about a possible White House visit intensified this week as Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met with his U.S. counterpart, Jake Sullivan, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington.
        
        During the visit, the United States and India launched a partnership to deepen ties on military equipment, semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
        
        New Delhi has frustrated Washington by participating in military exercises with Russia and increasing purchases of the country's crude oil, a key source of funding for the war in Ukraine. Washington has been pushing New Delhi to do more to punish Russia for the Ukraine invasion.