Once-Banned Modi to Address Congress as India Shifts to U.S.
- Modi refused a visa to U.S. in 2005 on human rights grounds
- Obama, Modi discuss climate, energy, security, defense
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Barack Obama talk in the gardens between meetings at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Jan. 25, 2015.
Photographer: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
A little more than two years ago, the U.S. wouldn’t let Narendra Modi into the country. This week, India’s prime minister will have the honor of addressing a joint meeting of Congress.
It’s the latest step in an unexpected evolution that has brought U.S.-India ties to new heights as President Barack Obama’s tenure comes to an end. The U.S. sees India as a growing market for everything from F-16s to iPhones, while Modi wants American investment to kick-start a manufacturing boom. Both nations also have a common interest in countering China’s rising military and economic might.