Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a significant meeting on Thursday with a bipartisan United States Congressional delegation led by Congressman Michael McCaul. The delegation, currently on a visit to India, includes former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, alongside Representatives Gregory Meeks, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Nicole Malliotakis, Ami Bera, and Jim McGovern.
During their visit, the US delegation had previously met with the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamshala. Nancy Pelosi shared her reflections on the meeting on X, stating, “Today, it was my honor to join a bipartisan Congressional delegation to meet with His Holiness, the 14th @DalaiLama, in Dharamsala, India. In our meeting, we strongly reaffirmed Congressional support for the people of Tibet.”
The delegation’s engagement with PM Modi underscores the strong strategic partnership between India and the United States. The discussions covered a broad range of topics, including bilateral cooperation, regional security, and shared democratic values. PM Modi expressed his appreciation for the delegation’s visit, emphasizing the importance of ongoing dialogue and collaboration between the two nations.
On Wednesday night, the delegation also met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra. Minister Jaishankar expressed his gratitude for the delegation’s robust support for India-US relations. He shared on X, “Pleasure to meet with the bipartisan US Congressional delegation led by @RepMcCaul. Thank @SpeakerPelosi, @RepGregoryMeeks, @RepMMM, @NMalliotakis, @RepBera, and @RepMcGovern for joining. Appreciate their strong and continued support for the strategic partnership.”
The US Congressional delegation arrived in India on Tuesday, welcomed by officials of the Central Tibetan Administration at Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra Airport. Their first stop was Dharamshala, where they engaged with the Dalai Lama. Congressman McCaul presented the Dalai Lama with a framed copy of ‘The Resolve Tibet Act,’ a bipartisan bill passed by the US Congress to bolster US support for Tibet.
This legislative act, passed last week, urges Beijing to re-engage with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders to peacefully resolve their disputes over Tibet’s status and governance. The bill represents a significant move by the US Congress to enhance support for the Tibetan cause and highlights the international community’s ongoing concern for human rights and autonomy in the region.
The visit by the US Congressional delegation marks a reaffirmation of the deep-rooted ties between India and the United States, as well as a mutual commitment to addressing global challenges through cooperative efforts. As both nations continue to strengthen their strategic partnership, such high-level exchanges play a crucial role in shaping the future of bilateral relations and regional stability.
