Outcomes of Modi’s trip to US

The post Cold War era has been marked by the gradually improving ties between the world’s largest democracy and the sole superpower of the world. In order to further strengthen this unique relationship characterized not only by trade-related cooperation but also various other dimensions such as defence and security, education, science and technology, civil nuclear energy, environment, agriculture and health, India’s Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi visited the United States of America on 26th September 2014. This was the first time that Barack Obama met Narendra Modi since the latter had been earlier denied a visa due to his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

To improve the historically strategic relationship and give it new paradigms, the two countries collaborated on an India-US joint-statement which, for the first time, mentioned the condition in the South China Sea. “The leaders expressed concern about rising tensions over maritime territorial disputes, and affirmed the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea,” it said.

Another very poignant issue that emerged from PM Modi’s visit was climate. Both the nations resolved to engage in a joint mission to help understand the climate change impacts in a better way. Economically, US resolved to help develop ‘smart cities’ like Ajmer, Vishakhapatnam and Allahabad.

Modi also quite assertively emphasized the need to reform the UN Security Council so as to keep it abreast with the contemporary world politics and prevent it from facing the “risk of irrelevance.”

Despite all the significantly positive steps towards a better bilateral relationship between the two countries, Congress found grounds to criticize Modi.

“When you look at the outcome it is definitely disappointing, there are no major takeaways of this much hyped visit. An atmosphere was created that where individuals who are mature also got excited. To an extent that everybody started believing that the world is going to change with the achievements, that there will be major agreements,” remarked Congress leader Anand Sharma.

“We wonder whether he had gone there on an election campaign or he was suddenly reminded of his Parliamentary constituency Varanasi,” he said, as he observed that Modi spoke during the visit as if he was still in “campaign mode.”

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About Manleen Bawa

It is a very daunting task for me to describe myself. I feel that there isn’t any one particular kind of thing that can truly define me. So, I am the kind of person who will very blatantly speak her mind, shoving away all signs of coming across as rude. I am also the kind who might tell you that you look quite pretty today just because I know how good that will make you feel about yourself. I am the kind of person who will often lose herself in the beauty of a book while completely oblivious to the world around me. I am also the kind of person who will try to devote as much time to others (people I love and care about) as I possibly can. What makes us human are our complexities. So, rather than being a strict prototype of a certain way of life, be complex. Be human.