US Congressmen Ro Khanna and Michael Waltz on Tuesday urged Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a joint session of the US Congress during his upcoming state visit.
PM Modi will visit the US on June 22 following an invitation from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
We respectfully request your consideration on inviting PM Modi for a joint address to Congress, thus highlighting the importance of the US-India strategic partnership and the shared values on which it is built.
On June 22, President Biden will host Modi for an official state visit and state dinner, Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna of the Democratic Party and Congressman Michael Waltz of the Republican Party wrote to McCarthy.
The two lawmakers underscored the importance of strengthening the bilateral relationship between the United States and India and highlighting the partnership by delivering a joint address to Congress.
As state dinners have come to reflect the President’s high regard for heads of state, delivering a joint address to Congress is an equal honor for the leader of the world’s largest democracy and perhaps the most important way to counter China in the 21st century Have a partner, the MPs wrote.
Earlier this month, Khanna and Waltz hosted a historic US-India summit on the hill, which included a panel and remarks by government leaders, experts and Indian-American leaders from across the country.
Noting that the foundation of the India-US partnership lies in a shared commitment to democracy and upholding a rules-based international system, they expressed mutual interest in promoting global security, stability and economic prosperity through trade, investment and connectivity. With interests intertwined, the United States and India have forged a deep bond.
He said the recent in-person bilateral meetings between President Biden and Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed our commitment to a resilient international order that protects sovereignty, upholds democratic values and promotes peace for all. and promotes prosperity.
In addition, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, involving the United States, India, Japan and Australia, has provided a platform for our countries to engage in meaningful discussions on shared regional and global security interests.
Khanna and Waltz said that the United States recognizes and supports India’s emergence as a major global power and an important partner in the security of the Indo-Pacific region as a place of peace, stability and growing prosperity.
If invited by McCarthy, this would be Modi’s second address to a joint session of Congress, making him one of the few world leaders to have had the opportunity to address US lawmakers twice.