Biden welcomes Modi to White House in closely watched visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been officially welcomed at the White House as part of a state visit, kicking off a day of events that will be capped by a lavish state dinner.

Modi was welcomed by US President Joe Biden on Thursday, a military band played both countries’ national anthems and soldiers paraded on the lawn. The Indian leader was met with chants of “Modi, Modi, Modi” from supporters. Protesters also gathered outside the White House gates.“I’ve long believed the relationship between the United States and India will be one of the defining relationships of the 21st century,” Biden said. “Prime Minister Modi, welcome back to the White House.”

“The challenges and opportunities facing the world in this century require that India and the United States work and lead together, and we are,” he said, hailing the informal “Quad” group of the US, India, Australia and Japan – long seen as a bulwark against China – as well as efforts to protect critical technologies and what Biden called shared core principles of “equity under the law, freedom of expression, religious pluralism, diversity of our people”.

Speaking in Hindi, Modi responded that he did not think he could thank Biden enough “for his warm welcome and his far-sighted speech. Thank you, President Biden, for your friendship.”

“This grand welcome ceremony of the White House today is an honour and pride for 1.4 billion people of India,” he said. “This is also an honour for more than 4 million people of Indian origin living in the US.”“The two countries are committed to work together for the global good and for global peace, stability and prosperity. Our strong strategic partnership is a clear proof of the power of democracy,” Modi said, adding that the “world order is taking a new shape”.

The two leaders had met Wednesday for a less formal dinner ahead of the main events on Thursday, which will include a joint press conference – a rare event for Modi who often avoids direct questioning from reporters – as well as an address to a joint session of the US Congress, capped by the state dinner in the evening.On Wednesday, Modi started the day by hosting a yoga event at the United Nations. He then visited the National Science Foundation with US first lady Jill Biden before having dinner at the White House with the president. Modi also met with Tesla CEO and Twitter owner Elon Musk on Tuesday and is set to address business leaders on Friday.

Despite the pomp rolled out by the White House, Modi’s visit has been overshadowed by a wide array of calls for Biden to address human rights abuses that international monitors say have flourished under the prime minister’s leadership.