Keep in mind that we are not discussing a Bollywood film here, but rather a voyage that embodies a fresh tenet for relations between India and the US.

The joint statement from India and the US states that “Our cooperation will serve the global good as we work through a range of multilateral and regional groupings – particularly the Quad – to contribute towards a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo- Pacific.” This statement captures the sentiments and intentions of both countries. The cooperation between our two great countries, which stretches from the oceans to the sky, touches every aspect of human enterprise.

The Artemis Accords, a US-led initiative to send people back to the moon by 2025 with the ultimate goal of expanding space exploration to Mars and beyond, will soon welcome India, putting the lofty rhetoric into practise. The variety of bilateral agreements reached and the anticipated effects they will have on the Indian economy speak volumes about the depth of understanding between the two countries and the strategic importance the US accords to India.

A bird’s eye view of Prime Minister Modi’s state visit is provided by the viewpoints from Beijing and Islamabad. China and Pakistan have historically resisted a strong India on the international scene, particularly if it aligns with the US. The State Visit of Prime Minister Modi to the US served as a sobering reminder to China that other countries besides Beijing are capable of pursuing “win-win” relations with the US.

When he said before Congress, “The dark clouds of coercion and confrontation are casting their shadow in the Indo-Pacific,” the Prime Minister made a veiled jab at China.

He continued, “The stability of the region has become one of the central concerns of our partnership.”

The importance of international law and freedom of navigation was emphasised in the joint statement, which also issued a warning about escalating tensions and destabilising activities in the East and South China Sea. When Lata Mangeshkar’s “Ae mere wattan ke logon” was performed at the State dinner, the US may have been gently reminding China of their obligations.

This song honours the Indian Army personnel who sacrificed their lives in the 1962 border conflict with China. The new normal in India-US ties heavily relies on symbolism! According to official Chinese media, the US was “wishful thinking” about India’s potential. They saw Modi’s visit as a component of Washington’s plan to support India in order to limit China, exuding a slight “cautious optimism,” as Beijing thinks the two sides aren’t completely on the same page.

The Joint Statement, in which both leaders “strongly condemned cross-border terrorism, the use of terrorist proxies, and called on Pakistan to take immediate action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for launching terrorist attacks,” is the best example of the winds of change blowing through Indo-US relations. Pakistan did not like this at all. The US-Indian Joint Statement was labelled as “unwarranted, one-sided, and misleading” by Pakistan’s foreign ministry.

It was “contrary to diplomatic norms,” it added, because it made reference to Islamabad. The Dawn (June 24), along with other major English dailies, attempted to downplay Pakistan’s role in encouraging militancy and terrorism in India by claiming that, “While Pakistan has had a problem with militancy, the critique would have carried more weight had the Biden administration also brought up India’s deplorable treatment of its Muslims, and its long subjugation of Kashmir.” According to The Express Tribune (June 24), the joint statement demonstrated that “Washington was harping to the tune from India”. Most significantly, from the standpoint of international politics, “India’s inking of big-ticket projects… has cemented a decade of neo- World Order in Asia.”

When he stated that the area of technology cooperation across the entire ecosystem, tech transfer, tech trade in products and services, tech capacity building, tech co-production and research, constituted a major takeaway from the visit, alluding to the cooperation within the framework of the initiative on critical and emerging technologies (iCET) and beyond, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra accurately summarised the outcomes of the trip. The development of the defence collaboration, space cooperation, and the dedication of the two countries to utilising cutting-edge technology for mutual benefit deserve special note. simply because President Biden. The Prime Minister receiving a state honour demonstrated the value the US places on the visit. Both states have demonstrated the desire and means to advance their geopolitical relations. The numerous fields in which the US has committed to partner with India demonstrate this reciprocal goodwill. This new cooperative spirit is leading with cooperation in defence, semiconductors, and space.

A significant improvement in technology-defence cooperation may be seen in the agreement to jointly develop jet engines, the purchase of High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones, and the establishment of semiconductor facilities in India. It is noteworthy that General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop GE 414 fighter aircraft engines together, with technology transfer and local production capabilities. Undoubtedly, the Tejas Mark II will improve. Future use of the GE 414 for the AMCA also becomes conceivable. Additionally, to improve India’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, the Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force will purchase 31 MQ-9B HALE US drones. To General Atomics, a US company, will establish a Comprehensive Global MRO facility in India to support long-term objectives in enhancing India’s domestic defence capabilities. Although the US defence industry has led the way, US political leadership will need to make sure that this sector remains stable.

In the new global order, India and the US are mutually dependent. The US realises it needs a partner in the Indo-Pacific to whom it can commit the task of acting as a countervailing force against China in light of the fact that Russia is engaged in a lone war in Ukraine, China is on a mission to become a world power, and others are clamouring for a position on the international stage. India is hesitant to openly be such power. India should consequently take steps in that direction without necessarily boasting about them.

India, and more importantly Prime Minister Modi, understand the importance of deeper ties with the US if they are to wean themselves off of relying on Russia for weapons and other equipment. Another aspect of the current visit, though for different reasons, is geopolitically significant for both the US and India. The US anticipates that India would ostensibly help Ukraine in the dispute very soon. The necessity to employ bilateral leverage with India will persist until this occurs.

In the end, the relationship between India and the US has benefited. The multi-layered mechanisms put in place to accomplish the goals outlined in the Joint Statement may now be relied upon by both parties to last beyond the elections that will take place in both India and the US next year. If this really does happen, President Biden and Prime Minister Modi will have had a significant influence on how India-US relations develop in the future.