What Narendra Modi's big American debut means for climate change

When the controversial Indian prime minister meets President Obama, the environment should be a top issue on the table

Modi
(Image credit: (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images))

Next week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his first official visit to the United States since his election in May. Modi will spend two days in Washington, D.C., meeting with President Obama on a wide variety of issues — and for a refreshing change, climate change is likely to be at the top of the agenda.

The U.S.'s relations with India have suffered over the past year. The arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York City and trade-related disputes have been two high-profile tiffs, amid an overall sense that the relationship has drifted during the Obama administration. Indeed, that the meeting is even taking place is a success for Modi, who for years was barred from receiving a U.S. visa due to his alleged role as chief minister in sectarian riots in Gujarat in 2002 that led to the deaths of more than 2,000 Muslims.

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Neil Bhatiya

Neil Bhatiya is a Policy Associate at The Century Foundation, where he works on issues related to U.S. foreign policy, with a specific focus on South Asia and climate change.