President Joe Biden called Chinese President Xi Jinping a “dictator” 24 hours after he received Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing on Monday to ease tensions. There was general consensus that the disqualification aimed at Xi, the leader of the main rival economic and military power, was one more of his paw pokes. Instead, yesterday he rolled out the red carpet of the White House and paid all the honors to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, who is not exactly characterized by developing a democratic style, or not for everyone, famous for his little respect for human rights and dissenting from the position of the United States and its Western allies in the war over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Biden always resorts to idealistic rhetoric in foreign relations and emphasizes the battle between democracy and autocracy as one of the decisive issues of this era. But not this time, when everything is transformed into the current board of global geostrategy because India has emerged as a counterweight to the long shadow cast by Beijing. You have to look the other way.
“The challenges and opportunities facing the world require us to work and lead together, and that’s what we’re doing,” said the host when he welcomed the guest.
The prime minister said that the two countries “take pride in their diversity and share basic democratic values”, a phrase that embarrassed many members of the Democratic Party. Nearly a hundred legislators from the Lower House and the Senate sent him a letter asking Biden to raise the issue of human rights in this meeting.
Speaking to CNN, former President Barack Obama argued that his friend Biden should mention this issue for the good of India. “My argument would be that if you don’t protect the rights of the minorities in your country, there is a big possibility that India will start to separate at some point,” he said.
In fact, a demonstration of supporters was organized in the vicinity of the White House, but among them there were also opponents with posters that said: “Say no to Modi”.
In a press conference with Biden (the first time he has answered questions from the press in nine years, according to local media), Modi denied any abuse of power. “I am surprised that they tell me this”, he said. “We live in a democracy, with no room for discrimination, democracy is in our DNA, in our spirit, it runs through our veins,” he said.
Biden didn’t make him look bad in public. “We had a good discussion about democratic values, which are part of the nature of our relationship and we treat each other with respect”, he clarified.
The guest, who is seeking leverage for the world’s most populous nation, appreciated the ceremonial welcome, an honor for India’s 1.4 billion citizens and the more than 4 million who reside in the United States, he said.
In fact, Modi was already at the presidential residence in Washington on Wednesday afternoon (private dinner with the Bidens), after earlier participating in a session on the occasion of Yoga Day at the UN barracks in New York .
The congratulations include a speech to Congress this Thursday, topped off with a gala dinner at the White House. This treatment is only comparable to that given to the presidents of South Korea, Yoonn Suk Yeol, and France’s Emmanuel Macron, countries that are well aligned with the policy of the United States, whether regarding Ukraine or the condemnation of autocratic governments.
By contrast, Modi, who represents the fifth-largest and fastest-growing economy in the G-20 group, has consistently abstained from voting at the United Nations to demand that Vladimir Putin be held accountable and has become one of the best Russian oil customers. In just over a year, according to analysts, India has gone from buying little fuel from Moscow to buying half of what Russia exports by sea.
As things stand, and in the face of the accusations leveled against Modi, especially for the lack of respect for religious freedom, the State Department is as silent in the face of these allegations as it is loud in condemning the transgressions that they comment on others who play a less relevant role in the international game.
India is chosen, by the US Government, as the argument in Asia to counter China, both in the military and economic aspects.
In this regard, the two leaders announced initiatives to advance cooperation in telecommunications, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and others. Modi aims to sign the Artemis agreement (principles governing the peaceful exploration of the Moon, Mars and others) and plans a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.
Biden alluded to the 2,000 million that India has pledged to invest in the US. “Both countries are entrepreneurs”, he said, while Modi alluded to a new chapter in the global cooperation strategy.
But where there was full harmony was in the defense of the Indo-Pacific area.
“It is our priority”, emphasized Modi. “We want a free, safe and progressive zone,” said Biden, who affirmed that calling Xi a “dictator” will have no consequences.
