Washington, NFAPost: In preparation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s forthcoming state visit to the United States, Richard Verma, the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources and the highest-ranking Indian American in the US State Department, emphasized the importance of building and institutionalizing cooperation between the two largest democracies in the world. Verma stated that the visit is timely and aligns with President Joe Biden’s objective of establishing long-term collaboration.
Scheduled to begin on June 21, Prime Minister Modi’s three-day visit to Washington DC includes a welcome ceremony, a state dinner, and an address to the Joint Session of the US Congress on June 22. Verma, known for his instrumental role in strengthening the India-US relationship during his tenure as the first US ambassador to travel to every Indian state, attributed the deepening ties between the two countries to President Biden’s commitment and Secretary of State Tony Blinken’s support.
Recalling the past, Verma highlighted how Biden, as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, advocated for the Indo-US civil nuclear deal during the Republican presidency of George Bush. Biden successfully persuaded his Democratic colleagues in Congress to vote in favour of the deal, demonstrating his long-standing belief in the importance of the US-India relationship. Verma lauded Biden’s foresight in predicting that a closer friendship between the two nations would lead to a safer and more prosperous world, a prediction that has come true over the past 17 years.
Verma acknowledged that the civil nuclear deal fell short in terms of producing nuclear power in India but emphasized the positive impact it had on the overall relationship. He praised the deal for mobilizing support from the US Congress and the Indian American diaspora, which transformed the bilateral ties and advocated for a fairer international system that acknowledged the global south and rising powers. Verma affirmed that the relationship between India and the US has continued to strengthen since then.
The Deputy Secretary of State emphasized that the India-US relationship extends beyond defence cooperation to encompass areas such as clean energy, innovation, and technology. He mentioned National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s ongoing visit to India to discuss emerging technologies, quantum computing, AI, and semiconductors, in which both countries are at the forefront. Verma expressed his enthusiasm for the potential impact of the next two years in shaping the collaboration between the two nations for the next two decades.
While praising Prime Minister Modi for his significant role in strengthening the partnership, Verma highlighted the efforts of the entire Indian team, including the National Security Advisor, Foreign Secretary, External Affairs Minister, and Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu in Washington. He stressed the importance of continued commitment and dedication from both sides to sustain and advance the relationship between the two countries.
As Prime Minister Modi’s state visit approaches, the stage is set for further strengthening the India-US partnership and deepening cooperation on various fronts, from defence to clean energy and technological innovation. The visit marks an important milestone in the growing ties between the two nations, setting the stage for continued collaboration in the years to come.
