Kamala Harris to meet Narendra Modi in ‘coming of age’ moment for Indian diaspora

They will discuss regional issues, including democracy, human rights, climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic and security

Modi may also bring up immigration and other issues important to Indians who have moved abroad

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US Vice-President Kamala Harris takes part in a virtual Covid-19 summit from the South Court Auditorium at the White House on Wednesday. Photo: TNS

Published: 6:51am, 23 Sep 2021Updated: 6:51am, 23 Sep 2021

US Vice-President Kamala Harris plans to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday afternoon, making history as the highest ranking Indian-American to welcome the leader of a country that is becoming one of America’s most important allies.

“It does represent a ‘coming of age’ moment for the diaspora, which is now more than 4 million strong,” Milan Vaishnav, director of the South Asia Programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said in an email exchange.

The meeting between the leaders comes as the Biden administration moves closer to India and other Asian and Pacific nations, continuing the Trump administration’s focus on responding to China’s growing power by building America’s economic and military ties in the region. Biden will meet Modi on Friday.

Harris and Biden will also each meet separately Friday with leaders of the Quad alliance, which includes Japan and Australia, in addition to India.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves as he leaves New Delhi for the US on Wednesday. Photo: Indian Press Information Bureau via EPA-EFE

Harris and Modi will discuss regional issues, including democracy, human rights, climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic and security, according to a senior administration official who would brief reporters only on the condition of anonymity.