Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that ties between New Delhi and Washington are stronger and deeper than ever, asserting that there is an "unprecedented" trust between the leaders of the two countries.
In an interview with the US newspaper "Wall Street Journal" ahead of his first official visit to Washington, Modi hailed growing defense cooperation between the two countries as an important pillar of the partnership, which he said extends to trade, technology and energy.
In Washington this week, Modi is expected to complete deals to manufacture jet-fighter engines in India to power advanced light combat aircraft, and to purchase high-altitude armed Predator drones from the US in a multibillion-dollar agreement to boost surveillance efforts over the Indian Ocean and near its disputed border with China in the Himalayas, According to the WSJ.
Modi spoke with The Wall Street Journal about Indias foreign policy, its efforts to build a more modern and sustainable economy and a range of other topics. Overall, his message was that, from Indias role in global politics to its contributions to the world economy, the countrys time has come.
"India deserves a much higher, deeper and wider profile and a role. We do not see India as supplanting any country. We see this process as India gaining its rightful position in the world," Modi said.
The world today is more interconnected and interdependent than ever before. To create resilience, there should be more diversification in supply chains," he added.
During his stay in the United State, the Indian Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with US President Joe Biden to discuss relations in the fields of defense and technology.
Source: Qatar News Agency