There was a time when our current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, was denied entry into the United States for his alleged involvement in the Gujrat riots. We have come a long way since then. PM Modi has received a clean chit from the Supreme Court regarding the matter and today boasts of international acclaim from several world leaders.
As the 44th US President Barack Obama prepares to leave the White House, he made one final phone call to PM Modi thanking him for his partnership which strengthened the Indo-US relationship.
The call also included a review of collaborations in the realms of nuclear energy, defence and ‘enhanced people-to-people’ ties.
President Obama was invited to be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations last year.
“Recalling his visit as the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in 2015, President Obama wished the Prime Minister warm congratulations ahead of India’s upcoming 68th Republic Day anniversary.”
Obama was also the first person to congratulate PM Modi on his election victory back in 2014.
Further details about the telephonic conversation released by the White House also speak of progressive steps in terms of international politics and conservation of the environment.
“Both leaders discussed the progress they have made on shared economic and security priorities, including recognition of India as a major defence partner of the United States and addressing the global challenge of climate change.”
The two leaders have met a total of 8 times since PM Modi took office back in 2014. That’s a record number of meetings between India and the United States.
The Assistant Secretary of State for South and central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, had this to say about the relationship between the two leaders.
“They have a great deal of personal camaraderie. But they also have a great deal of respect for each other for the leadership and the values and the integrity of each other’s approach.”
According to Biswal, the seeds of such a close relationship between President Obama and PM Modi were actually sown decades earlier.
What seems like just another phone call actually speaks volumes about the improved relationship between two of the biggest democracies in the world.
PM Modi made it clear that foreign policy was a priority on his agenda. The enhanced relationship with the US is solid evidence that PM Modi has achieved what he had promised in this aspect.
News Source: The Indian Express