- Biden congratulated Modi in a phone call after his election victory.
- He also spoke about his national security advisor's visit to India.
- The State Department anticipates cooperation with India for the Indo-Pacific region.
US President Joe Biden congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a phone call after his party, along with its allies, won the maximum number of seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.
According to the White House, the US president also spoke with Modi about his national security adviser Jake Sullivan's upcoming visit to India.
On the other hand, the State Department expressed Washington's anticipation towards its cooperation with New Delhi to ensure a free Indo-Pacific region.
Biden, a day earlier, posted about America's “friendship” with India on X, formerly Twitter.
“The friendship between our nations only grows as we unlock a shared future of unlimited potential,” the president said in the post.
Modi, whose National Democratic Alliance retained power with a surprisingly slim majority in voting results announced Tuesday, called the US-India partnership “a force for global good.”
The United States and India have deepened their ties in recent years given shared concerns about China's growing power, even as New Delhi has maintained its long-standing relationship with Russia despite the war in Ukraine, and even as advocates human rights activists have expressed concern about the human rights situation. in India, particularly with regard to the treatment of minorities.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on Tuesday called the U.S.-India relationship “a great partnership,” although the U.S. had human rights concerns, which he said it would continue to raise openly with New Delhi.
The White House statement following the call between the two leaders did not indicate the date of Sullivan's next visit to New Delhi. He said he will engage with the Indian government on shared priorities, including technology.
Last year, during a visit by Modi to the United States, the two countries announced a series of agreements on semiconductors, critical minerals, technology, defense and space cooperation.
Plots against Sikh separatists test ties
Ties between the two countries have been tested recently with the discovery of assassination plots against Sikh separatists in Canada and the United States.
In November, U.S. authorities said an Indian government official had led the plot to try to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist with dual citizenship in the United States and Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in September that Canadian intelligence agencies were investigating credible allegations linking the Indian government to the June 2023 assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
Trudeau also congratulated Modi in a statement on Wednesday and said Canada was ready to promote ties between the countries “anchored in human rights, diversity and the rule of law.”
Last month, the US ambassador to India said Washington was satisfied so far with steps taken by India to ensure accountability in the alleged plots, but that many steps were still needed and there must be consequences for which was a “red line for the United States.”
India has raised concerns about the link with officials and disassociated itself from the plots, saying it would formally investigate the concerns.
Political analysts say Washington is restraining public criticism because it expects India to act as a counterweight to an expansionist China.
