John Ciorciari, associate dean for research and policy engagement at the Ford School of Public Policy and director of the Ford School's International Policy Center and Weiser Diplomacy Center, comments on the relevance of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first state visit to the United States June 21
"Modi's state visit indicates India's importance to the evolving U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy," he said. "Rather than chastising India for its close continuing ties to Russia, the Biden administration is working hard to wean New Delhi away by selling India advanced drones and co-producing other weapons.
"Rather than giving Modi the cold shoulder for democratic backsliding, U.S. officials are giving him a rare opportunity to address Congress. This is how a government treats its close friends—and those it most hopes to draw into that category."