"Modi's US visit sparks debate on democracy and partnership"

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US highlights the growing importance of India as a potential bulwark against China and an increasingly powerful actor in sectors including technology, defense, and the arts. However, concerns about human rights and democratic erosion in India are intensifying across the nation he now leads. Biden's decision to host a state visit risks undermining one of his key campaign messages against Donald Trump in 2020. The visit underscores both the promise of strengthening ties with the world's most populous nation and the peril of positioning his presidency as a pivotal force in the global battle between autocracy and democracy.