Biden warmly welcomes India's Modi despite questions about human rights issues

"I think that the Biden administration has been willing to set aside their differences over Russia because they really are playing a long game with India. And they see China as the long-term threat," said Lisa Curtis, director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, who spent years working on South Asia foreign policy in the U.S. government.

U.S. policymakers and foreign policy experts see this state visit as a critical moment to cement ties that are going to be vital for the next 50 years.

"India is going to have influence in this region. It's inevitable with its growing economy, its huge population," said Curtis. "And it's very important for the United States to remain closely engaged, even if there are bumps in the road."

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