Modi and Biden will embrace and hug each other in a few days when the Indian prime minister rings the doorbell at the White House.
By invitation only, Modi comes to the USA as a distinguished guest, the first one under the official designation of “state visit.”
It is indeed an honour for Modi. In contrast, despite being the chief minister, he was denied a US entry visa in 2005 based on his known human rights violation; he got cleared through a court verdict related to the Gujarat massacre of Muslims in 2002, as documented by the BBC.
Besides the White House’s pomp and pageantry, dinners, and chats, where Biden, as per his wish, will seek an autograph from one of the world’s most prominent leaders, Modi will get rockstar receptions in New York and Washington from the enthusiastic and faithful diaspora of his American “bhagats.”
Biden’s decision to offer a red-carpet treatment and 21-gun salute to the Indian leader is not because of any significant change or speculation of a new avatar in Modi from being a Hindu chauvinistic and autocratic politician to a saintly statesman.
The reason is just geopolitical.
India is a country that can tilt the balance in the ongoing political and military dominance between the USA and China in the South Asian region. The USA’s once closest partner in the area, Pakistan, is not trusted anymore because of its fast-developing ties with China and the political instability the country undergoes most of the time.
Courting an Indo-Pacific leader with whom the USA seeks a more substantial relationship is a strategic move to blunt China’s growing assertiveness and influence in the region.
India is the right choice for the USA to be the frontman to steer the region’s growing economic and political power toward its vested interest.
Modi will listen to Biden’s push and pull, say ‘yes, yes,’ and sign some key economic and defence industry pacts, but he will not commit to being a US strategic partner. Instead, he would like to emerge as one of the world’s most strong and influential leaders.
The State visit, his parleys with Biden and company, and the “howdy, Modi” receptions will give the Indian leader enough fodder to offer his ardent followers when he returns. His message will be clear and straightforward: through his wise leadership, India is honoured, respected, and the nation is marching towards superpower status.
By the time Modi returns, the Indian government propaganda mill would have already written, stamped and delivered the publicity material to the “Modi-godi” media to start publishing and broadcasting his super successful June 21-24 US visit.
The honoured “state visit” invitation and the hugs may disappoint Biden, but for Modi, it would undoubtedly boost his third consecutive win in the 2024 election.
-by Promod Puri
Promod Puri.com 