Joe Biden to host Narendra Modi for official state visit on 22 June

The White House on Wednesday said US President Joe Biden will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official state visit on 22 June.

Modi's visit will strengthen two countries’ shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region and will elevate the bilateral strategic technology partnership, said the White House.

“The visit will strengthen our two countries’ shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific and our shared resolve to elevate our strategic technology partnership, including in defense, clean energy, and space,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

“The upcoming visit will affirm the deep and close partnership between the US and India and the warm bonds of family and friendship that link Americans and Indians together,” she also said.

President Biden has been eager to strengthen ties with India amid China's aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region.

“The leaders will discuss ways to further expand our educational exchanges and people-to-people ties, as well as our work together to confront common challenges from climate change, to workforce development and health security,” Jean-Pierre said.

During a February visit to the US by India's national security adviser Ajit Doval, the United States and India launched a partnership to deepen ties on military equipment, semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

Modi's visit to the US comes ahead of the G20 summit being hosted by India in September.

Modi last visited Washington in September 2021 at the invitation of Biden for a bilateral meeting.

The prime minister will join Biden and his counterparts from Australia and Japan at a summit of the Quad leaders in Sydney on 24 May that is expected to focus on implications of the Ukraine war and the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

President Barack Obama invited Modi to the White House in 2014, after he became prime minister.