About 2.7 million people of Indian descent live in the United States. Almost three-fourths of the high-skilled migrant worker program in the United States are Indian citizens.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his official visit to the White House on Wednesday by recognizing what unites the two nations above all else: their people.
Of the many things the two nations have in common – including the UK government’s linguistic heritage, a democratic system and an emphasis on higher education and research – Modi said people-to-people relations are a top priority, as analysts say the both leaders are preparing to “take the relationship to a new level”.
“I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to meet such young and creative minds today, just after arriving in Washington, DC,” Modi said during the first White House event in his busy schedule, a visit to the Foundation. National of Sciences. .
There he and First Lady Jill Biden met students from the United States and India who shared their cutting-edge science projects. A Virginia high school student explained his job in semiconductor manufacturing to the First Lady; A PhD student from Mumbai showed him his underwater robot, which he says can be used in oyster fishing.
First Lady Jill Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greet Noah Isirimah during his visit to the National Science Foundation in Alexandria, Virginia June 21, 2023.
About 2.7 million people of Indian descent live in the United States. Indian citizens make up nearly three-quarters of the US’s high-skilled guest worker program and hold a significant number of university student visas.
According to UN estimates, the population of India surpassed that of any other country that year, surpassing 1.4 billion people. That’s more than four times the number in the third most populous country, the United States.
“Friends, today, India and the US need a talent pool to sustain growth momentum,” Modi said. “While the United States has world-class educational institutions and advanced technologies, India has the world’s largest talent pool for young people. And that is why I am confident that the India-US partnership will definitely prove to be an engine for inclusive and sustainable global growth.”
Defense, new technologies
Analysts say the two nations are eager to deepen ties.
The Biden administration “believes it has many serious, concrete results that will take the relationship to a new level,” Richard Rossow, an India-focused analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA on the basis of his discussions with White House officials prior to the visit. He said many of these products are aimed at defense, critical and emerging technologies.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (center) practices yoga during the International Day of Yoga event June 21, 2023 at the UN headquarters in New York. Modi is on a state visit to the United States.
India is equally interested, Irfan Nooruddin, a non-resident senior member of the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center, told VOA.
“At a time when the United States is genuinely interested in diversifying its supply chains beyond China towards the friendly coast, to use the Secretary of State’s phrase [del Tesoro] [Janet] Yellen,” he said, “India would love to be part of the new supply chains that are being built, and these Indian-American corporate leaders and businesspeople are well prepared to see the opportunities in India as part of a larger intergovernmental economic cooperation.” The United States and India”.
But as US Representative Ro Khanna told VOA, Washington will not shy away from the difficult issues. Khanna is the first Indian American to chair the Congressional Caucus for India and Indian Americans.
“Of course we’re going to talk about the importance of human rights, freedom of the press and the nation’s commitment to liberal democracy,” he told VOA. “But the core of the meeting will be how we strengthen the partnership.”
Rossow noted that traffic is only flowing in one direction for the time being. That could change, he told VOA.
“There are many Indians who have come here to study and work. Few Americans have chosen India as a place to study or work. So I also think that as part of this visit, you’ll see some ads to help balance that out and introduce a little more of India to more Americans,” he said.
Modi seemed to agree as he praised the academic exchange programs between the two nations and called for more.
“I call on all active and retired people involved in education and research in the US to spend their vacations in India, especially the winter vacations,” he said. “So they can learn something about India and also share their knowledge with the new generation.”
That might be easier said than done. The U.S. Department of State has assigned India a Level 2 travel advisory, “exercise caution” category. Ethnic violence has increased in the country over the past year.
[Chris Casquejo contribuyó con este artículo]
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