In his departure statement ahead of his visit to the US, PM Modi said the "special invitation" extended by the Biden family was a reflection of the vigour and vitality of the partnership between the democracies. He further said his discussions with President Biden and other senior US leaders will provide an opportunity to consolidate bilateral cooperation as well as in plurilateral forums such as G20, Quad and IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity).
The visit from June 21-24 will see the two sides working on a roadmap for cooperation between defence industries to partner closely in co-production, co-development, and maintaining the supply chain. The two sides will focus on strengthening trade and investment relations, and deeper ties in the technology domain comprising telecom, space, and manufacturing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited the US six times since 2014. The last one, which is often referred to as the “Howdy Modi” event, was a mega rally held on September 22, 2019, at the NRG Stadium in Houston, where PM Modi addressed a crowd of over 50,000 people, including a large number of Indian-Americans.
Indian-Americans raise slogans to send a message of welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his state visit, in Washington. (PTI)
At least three meetings with US President Joe Biden in three days, including a private engagement and a State dinner, a lunch jointly hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a reception hosted by US Congressional leaders — the US establishment is preparing to lay the red carpet as it welcomes Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his first State visit to the country in nine years in office.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, while briefing on the forthcoming State visit by the Prime Minister, described it as a “milestone” in the relationship between India and the US. “It is a milestone in our relationship. It is a very significant visit, a very important visit, a visit on which there is a genuine, widespread and deep interest in the US,” he said.
As Narendra Modi heads to the United States for an official state visit on the invitation of President Joe Biden, the bipartisan consensus in Washington on fostering the bilateral relationship is exemplified by the invitation extended to the Prime Minister by the leaders of the two chambers of the US Congress to address a joint meeting of Congress for a second time — an honour that has been accorded earlier only to a few leaders including Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, and Israel’s Prime Ministers Binyamin Netanyahu and Yitzhak Rabin.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for the United States on Tuesday morning — his first State visit to the country in nine years in office.
“I am travelling to the United States of America on a State Visit at the invitation of President Joseph Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. This special invitation is a reflection of the vigour and vitality of the partnership between our democracies,” a statement issued by the Prime Minister ahead of his departure read.
The Prime Minister is expected to attend at least three meetings with US President Joe Biden in three days, including a private engagement and a State dinner, a lunch jointly hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a reception hosted by US Congressional leaders. In his statement Tuesday morning, PM Modi highlighted the “multifaceted” ties between the two countries.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York, US. (Twitter/MEAIndia) 
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi landed in New York late Tuesday evening, marking the beginning of his first State visit to the US, which he said “will reinforce ties based on shared values of democracy, diversity and freedom”.
“Together we stand stronger in meeting the shared global challenges,” Modi said, as he left for the US Tuesday morning.
The Prime Minister is visiting the US for three days, where he will have at least three meetings with President Joe Biden – a private engagement at the White House on Wednesday, a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office and a State dinner at the White House on Thursday. (Read more)
The India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem or INDUS-X is going to spark a culture of co-development and co-production among startups between the two countries, according to the head of the US-India Business Council (USIBC).
"By investing in these relationships at the startup level, we can ensure that throughout the 21st century, our two democracies have the deterrent capability to protect our core values, promote the principles of the rules-based order, and preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Atul Keshap, president of USIBC, said at the launch of INDUS-X here on Tuesday. (PTI)
It's currently around 1 am, June 21, in New York.
📌 In a couple of hours, PM Narendra Modi is set to lead the International Yoga Day celebrations at the UN headquarters in the city
📌 Following the event, he will travel to Washington DC, which is expected to take less than 1.5 hours by flight
📌 In Washington, PM Modi will meet with US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden
Following the meeting, Modi and Musk interacted with each other on Twitter, with the former remarking that the duo had "multifaceted conversations on issues ranging from energy to spirituality," to which Musk responded: "Great conversations."
The US remains deeply confident in India's diversification of military equipment and believes that Washington's proposal for industrial cooperation will further integrate the defence industries of the two countries, the Pentagon has said.
Pentagon's Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday that the US encourages all its partners and allies to avoid transactions with Russia.
“We welcome Prime Minister Modi's visit to the United States this week. (Defense) Secretary (Lloyd) Austin visited India just two weeks ago and was able to meet with his counterpart (Rajnath Singh) there. What we always will continue to urge our allies and partners around the world is to avoid transactions with Russia,” she said, referring to the sanctions imposed on Moscow. (PTI)
There is palpable excitement on both sides over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US next week. He will be among the few dignitaries to get the rare honour of addressing a joint session of the US Congress more than once. President Joe Biden is hosting a dinner on the White House lawns that will see the attendance of thousands of people, a gathering only comparable to the visit of Pope Francis during the Obama regime in 2015.
There is expectant ecstasy on one side that India shall soon become an “ally” — if it’s not already so — of the great power, while there is cautious realism on the other side that it shall continue to tread the tightrope as an important “strategic partner,” short of any formal alliance. All acknowledge, though, that the partnership between the two major powers — the world’s first and fifth largest economies — shall be the most defining one in the 21st century. (Read more)
The Ministry of External Affairs today shared photos of PM Narendra Modi's meeting with Tesla and Twitter leader Elon Musk, indicating that the duo had a chat about business and technology. PM Modi also shared a photo of the meeting, quoting Musk's comment 'It was an honor to meet again.'
"PM @narendramodi met with renowned business magnate and investor @elonmusk. Appreciated him for his efforts at making technology accessible and affordable in various sectors. Invited him to explore opportunities in India for investments in electric mobility and rapidly expanding commercial space sector," said MEA in a tweet.
In this week's Rajamandala, Professor C. Raja Mohan discusses how the US-India relationship has evolved over the years into a sustainable and promising partnership. This enduring bond has seen continuous growth and progress under various governments in both nations. The current visit signifies a crucial turning point in this trajectory.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s packed state visit to the US from June 21 to June 23 notably includes an address to the Indian-American community. The address is at the landmark Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington DC on the evening of June 23. This will be his fourth major address to the community since he came to power in 2014.
Wooing of the Indian-American community by both Republicans and Democrats has become more pronounced in recent times. With just 45 lakh people, Indian immigrants make up a meagre one per cent of the US population but pay six per cent of the nation’s total income tax. It’s the second-largest immigrant community in the US. More than 40 Indian Americans have been elected to various offices across the US. There are four representatives in the House — Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Pramila Jayapal. There are a few mayors to boot. According to a report, there are 35 Indian-origin judges across the US, a record number for the community in judicial appointments. (Read more)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the world understands India’s position on the Ukraine-Russia conflict and knows that peace is his country’s top priority.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Modi, who is on his first state visit to the US, was questioned about the criticism India received in the US for not taking a more firm stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In reply, Modi said: “I don’t think this type of perception is widespread in the US.”
“I think India’s position is well known and well understood in the entire world. The world has full confidence that India’s top-most priority is peace,” he added. (Read more)
In New York, PM Modi also met with Buddhist scholar and author Bob Thurman. "The interaction with Bob Thurman was outstanding. I admire his passion towards research and scholarship on aspects relating to Buddhism. I highlighted India’s Buddhist heritage and how Buddhism can help overcome many challenges our world faces," PM Modi wrote on Twitter afterwards.
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, on meeting with the Prime Minister, said that he is not alone when he says that India has a lot of potential.
"Sky is not the limit for PM Modi. I was delighted to spend time with the Leader, who is Scientifically thoughtful," he said, adding, "Priorities might be out of balance for many world leaders but Prime Minister Modi cares for many things including solutions."
Nobel Prize winner Paul Romer met with PM Narendra Modi today and said that he learnt about what India is doing.
"A good day is when I learn something and I learnt a bunch about what India is doing," he said, adding "India can show the way to the World on the authentication front by programs like Aadhaar."
"The PM articulated very well that urbanisation is not a problem, it’s an opportunity. I take this as a slogan," Romer said.
Back in 1999, Annelies Richmond was a 23-year-old professional ballerina, been in the profession for eight years, and suffering all that it entailed — physical injuries, stage fright and anxiety attacks. “The night before each performance would be a night of anxiety, I would toss and turn, worried about my performance the next day, despite the injuries that hours of practice brings in,” she tells The Indian Express over the phone from New York City, where she would be leading the International Yoga Day celebrations from the United Nations Headquarters, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“It is a great honour for me to be leading the Yoga session for PM Modi,” says Richmond, who now teaches yoga at more than 108 universities across America, including Harvard, Stanford and Columbia. “Stress and mental-health issues are the same for students in any part of the world,” she says, adding, “It’s natural because there is a lot of pressure on them to excel and a lot is at stake. But we have seen that yoga and meditation help them.”
Interestingly, the university programmes in yoga that she leads are called Sky Breath Meditation, a name given to the ‘sudarshan kriya’ practice when she learnt it first around two decades ago. ‘Sudarshan kriya’ yoga is a type of cyclical controlled breathing practice that provides relief from depression, and is taught by the Bangalore-based Art of Living (AOL) Foundation. Read Full Report
Tesla CEO Elon Musk met PM Modi in New York. Musk expressed his immense enthusiasm for the future of India, stating, "I am incredibly excited about the future of India. PM (Modi) really cares about India because he is pursuing us to make significant investment in India."
Musk further emphasized PM Modi's commitment to India, saying, "He (PM Modi) wants to do the right things for India. He wants to be open, he wants to be supportive of new companies and make sure it accrues to India's advantage."
Additionally, Musk also expressed his desire to return to India, demonstrating his continued interest in the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in New York late Tuesday evening, marking the beginning of his first State visit to the US, which he said “will reinforce ties based on shared values of democracy, diversity and freedom”. The Prime Minister is visiting the US for three days, where he will have at least three meetings with President Joe Biden – a private engagement at the White House on Wednesday, a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office and a State dinner at the White House on Thursday.
In his statement ahead of departure, the Prime Minister said the special invitation from US President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden is a “reflection of the vigour and vitality of the partnership between our democracies”.
“I am confident that my visit to the US will reinforce our ties based on shared values of democracy, diversity and freedom,” he said. Stating that “President Biden and I have had the opportunity to meet several times since my last official visit to the USA in September 2021,” he said, “This visit will be an opportunity to enrich the depth and diversity of our partnership.”
Modi has travelled to the US seven times in the past nine years. This is his eighth visit, but the first State visit as Prime Minister. Read Full report
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel as he begins the first leg of his trip to the United States. The Indian diaspora warmly welcomes him with resounding chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. The Prime Minister will spend his time in the hotel getting ready for his upcoming trip to Washington, DC.
Members of the Indian diaspora are waiting for PM Modi's arrival at Lotte New York Palace Hotel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be staying at the Lotte New York Palace, a luxury hotel in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The hotel reportedly has over 900 rooms and suites for guests. He will be heading to the United Nations tomorrow to take part in the International Yoga Day celebrations.
PM Modi will attend a state dinner at the White House, hold talks with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, and participate in International Yoga Day celebrations at the UN in New York.
Members of the Indian community gathered outside Lottee New York Palace to welcome PM Modi on his arrival in the city.
Minesh C Patel, a member of the Indian diaspora, flaunts his jacket with PM Narendra Modi's image imprinted on it. "This jacket was made in 2015 during Gujarat Day... We have 26 of this (jackets) and out of these 26 (jackets) four of them are here today," says Minesh C Patel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit is a real testament to the growing relationship between India and the US, a top Biden administration official said on Tuesday, revealing that the planning for the historic trip was initiated in February.
"It's a real testament to the relationship between our two countries," Rufus Gifford, Chief of Protocol of the United States, told PTI in an interview, referring to the state visit - the highest level of visit that the United States offers to a foreign leader.
"We believe we're closer. The bilateral relationships with India are closer than ever, but we still have a lot more work to do together," he said.
Indian community members arrived at JFK Airport in New York ahead of PM Modi's arrival. Indian-Americans were also seen awaiting at Lotte New York Palace Hotel, where PM will be staying.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s packed state visit to the US from June 21 to June 23 notably includes an address to the Indian-American community. The address is at the landmark Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington DC on the evening of June 23. This will be his fourth major address to the community since he came to power in 2014.
The last one, which is often referred to as the “Howdy Modi” event, was a mega rally held on September 22, 2019, at the NRG Stadium in Houston, where PM Modi addressed a crowd of over 50,000 people, including a large number of Indian-Americans. He was accompanied by President Donald Trump himself. It was unprecedented for a US President to attend a diaspora meet for a foreign leader on American soil. Not only did this show President Trump’s respect for PM Modi’s stature as a leader, but it also seemed to serve his own purpose. The president, facing re-election, hoped that he would reach out to the influential Indian-American voters who traditionally voted for the Democratic Party. Read More
There is palpable excitement on both sides over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US next week. He will be among the few dignitaries to get the rare honour of addressing a joint session of the US Congress more than once. President Joe Biden is hosting a dinner on the White House lawns that will see the attendance of thousands of people, a gathering only comparable to the visit of Pope Francis during the Obama regime in 2015.
There is expectant ecstasy on one side that India shall soon become an “ally” — if it’s not already so — of the great power, while there is cautious realism on the other side that it shall continue to tread the tightrope as an important “strategic partner,” short of any formal alliance. All acknowledge, though, that the partnership between the two major powers — the world’s first and fifth largest economies — shall be the most defining one in the 21st century. Ram Madhav writes
The visit to Washington this week by Prime Minister Narendra Modi promises to lay the foundation for a long overdue and comprehensive transformation of India’s relations with the US. A series of intense and high-level consultations in the last few weeks has finalised far-reaching agreements ranging from transfer of jet engine technology to investments in India’s fledgeling semiconductor industry, and from innovations in 5G and 6G telecom networks to higher education and quantum computing. The optics of a state visit — PM Modi is only the third foreign leader to receive this honour from the Biden Administration — and a private dinner with Mr and Mrs Biden will underline the new personal bonhomie between the two leaderships at the highest level. Read More
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the world understands India’s position on Ukraine-Russia conflict and knows that peace is his country’s top priority.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Modi, who is on his first state visit to the US, was questioned about the criticism India received in the US for not taking a more firm stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In reply, Modi said: “I don’t think this type of perception is widespread in the US.”
“I think India’s position is well known and well understood in the entire world. The world has full confidence that India’s top-most priority is peace,” he added. Read More