Biden courts Modi as China, Russia ties put India's allegiance in play: 'Golden opportunity'
FOX NewsJul 06, 2023
India, US Sign Key Defense & Tech Deals
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Image copyright: the White House [via Wikimedia Commons]
The Facts
On Thursday, US Pres. Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed a series of new business deals on the second day of Modi's maiden state visit to the US.
The key announcements include an agreement that allows General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics to jointly produce engines to power India's indigenous fighter jets and the sale of US-made armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Biden had previously vowed that his foreign policy would be based on the defense of democratic values and human rights as the world, he claimed, was divided into democracies and autocracies. Therefore, granting Modi a rare state visit shows how hypocritical the Biden admin. is — revealing that it has struck a Faustian bargain with India's illiberal regime to counter China in the Indo-Pacific.
Pro-establishment narrative
There's no evidence that the Modi government is not fond of human rights or Western democratic values, which is why it would be ill-advised for the Biden admin. to put acute concerns about democracy in India over efforts to preserve the international liberal order under threat from China and Russia. Given its geopolitical position, India is a promising and crucial ally to counter China that must not be scorned.
