10 KeyFacts About PM Modi’s Landmark Visit to the US: Emphasis on Defense, Trade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Embarks on Landmark US State Visit, Focus on Defense, Trade: 10 Key Facts

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a historic state visit to the United States, receiving the highest level of diplomatic reception reserved for closest allies. During the visit, an unprecedented agreement on jet engine technology transfer is expected to be finalized.
2. Over the next three days, PM Modi’s itinerary includes a rare address to a joint session of the US Congress, meetings with business leaders and Indian expatriates, and a grand state dinner at the White House hosted by US President Joe Biden.
3. The address to the US Congress on Thursday marks PM Modi’s second opportunity to speak before this esteemed gathering. The invitation to deliver the speech was extended by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
4. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has highlighted the significance of this occasion, stating, “No Indian prime minister has addressed it twice. World over also, very few people have done that… Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela… That’s why its importance is huge.”
5. PM Modi joins the ranks of French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as the third world leader to be invited by President Biden for a state visit and dinner.
6. On Wednesday, coinciding with World Yoga Day, the Prime Minister will lead a yoga event at the United Nations headquarters. On Friday, he will address a gathering of Indian expat leaders from across the United States at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington.
7. Indian-Americans across the country are showing their support and excitement for PM Modi’s visit by organizing gatherings at iconic locations such as Times Square in New York and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, sending warm welcome messages.
8. Expressing gratitude for the enthusiastic support, PM Modi tweeted, “People from all walks of life, including Members of Congress, thought leaders, and others, have been sharing their enthusiasm about my upcoming USA visit. I thank them for their kind words. Such diverse support underlines the depth of the India-USA relationship.”
9. There are high hopes that General Electric (GE) may enter into a multi-million-dollar deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce the cutting-edge GE-F414 jet engine in India. This engine powers the F/A-18 Hornet, the US Navy’s primary fighter aircraft. The transfer of such advanced jet engine technology to another country has never been permitted by the US before.
10. PM Modi’s state visit to the US is the third of its kind by an Indian leader. The previous two visits were made by former President Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan in June 1963 and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2009.