With Modi's visit, Indo-US ties turn over a new leaf: US Envoy

New Delhi, June 25 (HS): According to Ambassador of the United States to India Eric Garcetti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit would be remembered as the "turning of a new leaf" and the beginning of a "bold new chapter" in India-US ties.

He also stated that it is more than a bilateral partnership. "It's a friendship, it's genuine, and it's deep. I believe that this visit will be remembered as the turning of a page and the beginning of a bold new chapter in America-India relations. It represents the culmination of years, if not decades, of hard work," Garcetti added. He also stated that it has exceeded many expectations, whether it is due to the personal relationship between Prime Minister Modi and President Joe Biden, the breadth and depth of the work done by the governments, or the people-to-people ties between business leaders, cultural leaders, and everyday Americans and Indians. This is all about the future. And I believe America and India are the future, stronger together and demonstrating how we can create a more affluent world for everybody if this partnership grows," he added. Garcetti emphasised the four Ps during his visit: peace, prosperity, the planet, and people.

He stated that when it comes to peace, real defence deliverables, and sharing of deeper technology than the US has done, even with most of its closest allies, on prosperity, "finally putting trade disputes behind us, deepening technological cooperation and supply chains, on planet, work of climate, space, and ocean. New consulates are being established to strengthen people-to-people connections. This is now an all-arena romance. And it's about more than just a connection. "It's a genuine, deep friendship," he remarked.

Garcetti stated, "I don't see that optimism waning in the years ahead. But I believe there is a growing recognition that we must prepare not just for the now, but also for the next 20-25 years."

People "who don't share our values, who have planned for the long term, who aren't democracies, who don't see technology as something to help people's lives, who may not be interested in helping or moving our work to combat climate change," he added. He stated that India and the United States must prepare for far more than what they have today over the next 25 years.

"There are a lot of good things we need to do together," he added. "We need to prepare for the rise of the middle class in India... we need to prepare for a way that the US and India can really build supply chains that help the world de-risk."

He went on to say that New Delhi and Washington must ensure that "our military cooperation isn't just aspirational and occasional, but that it's a true deterrent to bad actors and can help preserve a world based on the rule of law and order."

Garcetti commented on Modi and Biden's connection, saying that while world leaders need to communicate with each other, "from what I saw reflected in that they (Modi and Biden) love to talk to each other. They should spend time together. They also like spending time together. That is really crucial. Whether it's for topics that are simple to discuss or some of the more challenging ones we face."

Hindusthan Samachar/Abhishek Awasthi