PM Modi’s Whirlwind US Trip Achieves ‘Very Significant Outcomes’: Foreign Secretary
During his brief 55-hour trip to the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured “very significant outcomes” across both bilateral and multilateral spheres, allowing India to articulate its perspectives on the global stage, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Misri briefed reporters on Modi’s visit, which included meetings with US President Joe Biden, participation in the Quad and United Nations summits, and a speech at a diaspora rally. “The results from this visit will strengthen our position moving forward,” he noted.
Despite its brevity, the trip yielded substantial achievements in various domains, enhancing India’s ability to share its views internationally. The visit featured a strong emphasis on technology, including a roundtable with tech CEOs and discussions in the joint Quad statement and US-India bilateral factsheet.
Misri highlighted the potential for India to take a leadership role in technology, particularly in areas like AI and quantum computing. He pointed out that India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI) demonstrates how digital capabilities can be harnessed for social and public good, offering a scalable model for other nations.
The roundtable featured executives from major tech firms, including Google, Nvidia, Global Foundry, and IBM, as well as bioscience companies like Moderna and Biogen. The joint fact sheet from the White House indicated that Biden and Modi agreed to foster new AI innovations, enhance R&D collaboration on advanced semiconductors, and support India’s National Quantum Mission.
When asked about the potential impact on India-US relations from a reported meeting between Khalistani Sikhs and White House officials, Misri reaffirmed the importance of the India-US relationship and expressed a commitment to continuing efforts in that direction. He dismissed attempts to introduce friction, suggesting that questions regarding specific motivations should be directed to those involved.
Regarding India’s abstention from a recent General Assembly resolution about the Israeli occupation, Misri mentioned that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed appreciation for India’s humanitarian and political support.
The Summit of the Future resulted in a Pact for the Future, committing global leaders to an action plan addressing worldwide challenges, and called for expedited reforms in the UN Security Council. Misri noted that it was significant that, for the first time, a UN summit document included a detailed paragraph on Security Council reform, marking a promising beginning for future negotiations.
