President Biden and first woman Jill Biden greet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the White House for a non-public dinner the night time earlier than a gala state go to.

Mandel Ngan/AFP by way of Getty Images

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Mandel Ngan/AFP by way of Getty Images

President Biden and first woman Jill Biden greet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the White House for a non-public dinner the night time earlier than a gala state go to.

Mandel Ngan/AFP by way of Getty Images

President Biden is rolling out the purple carpet for India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, welcoming him to Washington with an honor reserved for the closest allies of the United States — a state go to that features a glitzy black-tie dinner.

It’s an indication of the significance the White House locations on its relationship with India, the world’s most populous nation, which it sees as an indispensable companion in countering the affect of China.

But it is also an indication of the fragile steadiness Biden is making an attempt to keep up between his geopolitical technique and his marketing campaign promise that human rights can be a central focus in his international coverage.

India prides itself on being the world’s largest democracy. And whereas the nation continues to have vibrant elections, consultants fear that a lot of what makes a liberal democracy thrive is at present being undermined in India beneath Modi.

“The accusations of backsliding, religious bigotry, attacks on the press, attacks on civil society make this a particularly awkward moment in which to celebrate the two democratic countries coming together to contest China,” stated Irfan Nooruddin of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, who research democracies and democratic establishments.

Earlier this yr, Indian tax authorities raided native BBC workplaces after the community aired a documentary that was crucial of Modi’s function within the 2002 Gujarat riots the place over 1,000 folks died, principally Muslims. The Indian authorities has outright banned the documentary.

More than 70 Democratic members of Congress have signed a letter urging Biden to debate human rights and democratic values throughout this week’s go to.

The White House is worried about points press freedom and non secular liberty in India, and officers privately elevate the issues with their Indian counterparts, a senior Biden administration official informed NPR, talking about delicate diplomatic points on the situation of anonymity.

“I think the key is, how we handle it,” the official stated. “Indian interlocutors feel very uncomfortable when they feel that they’ve been lectured or dealt with through very public displays.”

Concerns about China are a giant a part of the U.S.-India relationship

Biden has described the U.S.-India relationship because the defining partnership of this century. There are frequent pursuits between the 2 international locations on well being care, local weather change, schooling, and expertise.

Biden and Modi will announce a protracted listing of offers on Thursday, demonstrating the breadth of the strategic relationship, officers informed reporters. This features a plan to collectively produce GE’s F414 jet engine in India, a brand new Micron semiconductor facility in India, most cancers analysis, and a pilot for extra shortly adjudicating work visa renewals.

But consultants say an important convergence between the 2 international locations is nationwide safety. The White House views China as the only largest international coverage risk of the present period.

“The China factor is really an accelerant in the relationship,” stated Akriti (Vasudeva) Kalyankar from the Stimson Center’s South Asia Program.

China is an “undeniable” issue within the bilateral relationship, stated the senior administration official who spoke with NPR. “Our view is that this is an absolutely critical period to build a strong relationship with India … and one of the reasons why is that it helps in our overall strategy in the Indo-Pacific,” the official stated.

And this view is not restricted to the White House. Republican and Democrats in Congress, the place Modi may even be talking, have comparable issues about China’s impression within the area.

“[The] relationship with India is incredibly important in stabilizing the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region and enabling us to basically lower the possibility of conflict,” stated Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., a rating member on the House Select Committee on China.

India has its personal issues about China

Modi has his personal issues about China, given the historic rivalry and border conflicts between the 2 nations, stated Ben Rhodes, who labored on nationwide safety points within the Obama White House.

Because of that, Rhodes stated he thinks the White House might be extra outspoken about democratic backsliding and therapy of Muslim minorities in India with out risking continued collaboration with India on the nationwide safety points.

“I think that Modi is doing this for what he perceives as India’s interests in having a block of countries that can counter China,” Rhodes stated.

Another level of rivalry has been Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. India has refused to sentence the conflict, whereas Biden has led Western help for Ukraine.

“I think that the Biden administration has been willing to set aside their differences over Russia because they really are playing a long game with India. And they see China as the long-term threat,” stated Lisa Curtis, director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program on the Center for a New American Security, who spent years engaged on South Asia international coverage within the U.S. authorities.

U.S. policymakers and international coverage consultants see this state go to as a crucial second to cement ties which might be going to be very important for the subsequent 50 years.

“India is going to have influence in this region. It’s inevitable with its growing economy, its huge population,” stated Curtis. “And it’s very important for the United States to remain closely engaged, even if there are bumps in the road.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and first woman Jill Biden greet Noah Isirimah at an occasion about expertise and schooling in on June 21, a part of Modi’s state go to.

Jacquelyn Martin/AP

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Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and first woman Jill Biden greet Noah Isirimah at an occasion about expertise and schooling in on June 21, a part of Modi’s state go to.

Jacquelyn Martin/AP