The United States and India have agreed to enhance their cooperation in the space industry and technology sector. The announcement came during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US. The two countries have signed several agreements and initiatives, including India’s participation in the Artemis Accords, which facilitate international cooperation for future space missions. NASA will work with India’s space agency to send a mission to the International Space Station in 2024. Micron Technology will also invest $800 million to build a semiconductor manufacturing plant in India, while Washington supports India’s entry into the Minerals Security Partnership.
Modi and US President Joe Biden are expected to announce New Delhi’s purchase of 31 American-built unmanned aircraft worth around $3 billion. They are also set to oversee an agreement between General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to build F414 fighter plane engines in India. Although the two leaders are expected to discuss US-China tensions and India’s ties with Russia, senior US officials have said that the focus is on deepening bilateral ties.
However, the visit is not without controversy. Several human rights groups have accused the Modi-led government of adopting discriminatory policies towards Muslims and suppressing dissent. Progressive lawmakers of the US House of Representatives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, have announced that they would boycott Modi’s speech in Congress. Senior US officials have acknowledged the possibility of protests against the Indian leader in Washington.
Modi is scheduled to attend a state dinner at the White House in his honor, the third such dinner offered by Biden since becoming president. This is Modi’s second visit to the US, although he has faced criticism for ignoring or even promoting violence against minorities by Hindu extremists since 2001. He faced a visa ban by the US for violating religious freedom before assuming office. Modi will also hold his first-ever press conference with Biden during the visit.
