When did Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit US?
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, visited the United States of America (USA) from 21st June 2023 to 24th June 2023. Unlike his previous trips, this was his first official ‘state visit’ to the USA.
Former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh was the only other Indian PM to have been invited to the USA on a state visit.
What is a state visit?
The USA has different types of visits from foreign officials, such as state visits, official visits, and working visits. The highest category is a state visit, where a foreign official is invited to the USA as a guest of the US president at the White House. State visits show the strong friendship between the USA and other countries.
During a state visit, leaders like Prime Minister Modi are treated as special guests. They attend a fancy dinner that has food and decorations representing their culture.
Why was this visit important for the India-US relationship?
PM Modi went to the USA, and it wasn't just for a vacation. It was really important for India because they made some big announcements to make India and the USA closer. The Biden government wants to make it easier for Indians to live and work in the USA.
Vikram Solar, an Indian company that makes solar panels, is going to invest in the USA to help make clean energy. Also, General Electric's aerospace unit and India's Hindustan Aeronautics are working together to make aeroplane engines for the Indian Air Force. India's defence ministry also approved the purchase of armed drones from the USA.
India and NASA are working together on a mission to the International Space Station in 2024. Prime Minister Modi also met with important people like Elon Musk, who wants to bring Tesla to India. These are some efforts which will strengthen the India-US relationship.
When Prime Minister Modi was in the USA, he gave a speech to the US Congress. He talked about how India wants to help with climate change, women's empowerment, etc. He also gave gifts to President Joe Biden, and they had a fancy dinner together.
What gifts did PM Modi take with him?
PM Modi went to the White House, and President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed him warmly. During the visit, PM Modi gave President Biden a special gift—a handmade box made of sandalwood. Inside the box was a silver statue of Lord Ganesha, a diya (oil lamp), etc.
PM Modi also gave the First Lady a lab-grown diamond. In return, the Bidens gave PM Modi an American camera, a book featuring beautiful American wildlife photography and a book of poems by Robert Frost.
On June 22nd, 2023, there was a big dinner for PM Modi at the White House. 380 guests were invited, including famous people like Mukesh Ambani, Tim Cook (head of Apple), and Sundar Pichai (head of Google).
Overall, the visit was successful and strengthened the relationship between India and the USA.
