Jazmin Li
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted by a large group of Indian Americans when he landed at Andrews Joint Airforce Base in Washington, DC, on a three-day official visit to the US in 2021. He was also received by senior officials of the Biden Administration, including US Department of State officials, and India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu. This was Modi's first overseas trip beyond the neighbourhood since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 September 2021 |
| Location | Joint Base Andrews, Washington, DC |
| Time | 3:30 am Indian Standard Time |
| Greeters | Senior officials of the Biden Administration, Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, defence attaché including Brigadier Anoop Singhal, Air Commodore Anjan Bhadra, naval attaché Commodore Nirbhaya Bapna, and members of the Indian-American community |
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What You'll Learn
Indian-Americans welcomed Modi at Joint Base Andrews
Indian Americans gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi a warm welcome when he landed at Joint Base Andrews in Washington, DC, on September 22, 2021. This was Modi's first visit to the US beyond the neighbourhood since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
Despite heavy rains, a significant number of Indian Americans were at the airport to greet the prime minister. "Exuberant members of the Indian diaspora welcoming PM @narendramodi upon landing in Washington D.C.," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
Upon his arrival at the airport, Modi was received by senior officials of the Biden administration, including T.H. Brian McKeon, US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. He was also welcomed by India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, along with the Defence attache, including Brigadier Anoop Singhal, Air Commodore Anjan Bhadra, and naval attache Commodore Nirbhaya Bapna.
During his three-day official visit to the US, Modi addressed the UN General Assembly, attended the Quad Leaders' Summit, and held bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Prime Minister Morrison, and Prime Minister Suga.
Modi's visit aimed to strengthen the strategic partnership with the United States, Japan, and Australia. He also looked forward to meeting Vice President Harris to explore cooperation opportunities between India and the US, particularly in science and technology.
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Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India's Ambassador to the US, greeted Modi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted by Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India's Ambassador to the US, during his visit to the country in February 2025. Singh Sandhu is a retired diplomat of the Indian Foreign Service who served as the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka and the 28th Ambassador of India to the United States. He presented his credentials to former President Donald Trump in February 2020 and served in this role until 31 January 2024.
During his two-day visit to the US, Modi held high-level bilateral talks with Trump on a wide range of subjects, including trade and technology, defence and security, energy, and people-to-people ties. The visit was Modi's first to the US after Trump's inauguration for a second term, and it signalled the priority both leaders attached to the relationship between their countries.
In addition to meeting with Trump, Modi also interacted with other key American officials, including National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. He also met with prominent business leaders, such as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
Prior to his visit to the US, Modi spent two days in France, where he co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and held bilateral discussions.
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Defence attaché Brigadier Anoop Singhal welcomed Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome from the Indian-American community after landing in Washington, DC, for a three-day official visit to the United States. This was his first trip outside his neighbourhood since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
Modi was received at the airport by senior officials of the Biden Administration, including US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, TH Brian McKeon, and India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Defence attaché Brigadier Anoop Singhal welcomed Modi, along with Air Commodore Anjan Bhadra and naval attaché Commodore Nirbhaya Bapna.
The Indian Americans constituted more than 1.2 per cent of the US population, and Modi is popular among them. Despite heavy rains, a significant number of Indian Americans were at the Andrews Joint Airforce Base to welcome the Prime Minister. They were chanting his name and waving the Indian flag.
Modi got down from his car to interact with members of the Indian community. He was seen smiling and shaking hands with some of them. Defence attaché Brigadier Anoop Singhal was present throughout the welcome ceremony, ensuring the Prime Minister's security and coordination with the Indian delegation. He played a crucial role in facilitating the smooth arrival of Prime Minister Modi and coordinating with the US officials. Brigadier Singhal's presence highlighted the strong defence cooperation between India and the United States.
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Air Commodore Anjan Bhadra was present at the airport
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Washington, DC, on September 23, 2021, for a three-day official visit to the US. He was warmly welcomed by a significant number of Indian Americans who braved the heavy rain to greet him at the airport.
Also present at the airport to receive Prime Minister Modi was Air Commodore Anjan Bhadra. Air Commodore Bhadra is an Air Officer Commanding and a seasoned member of the Indian Air Force. He has served as the Air Officer Commanding at the Air Force Station Halwara, located near Ludhiana in Punjab, since at least 2019.
Air Commodore Bhadra has been responsible for receiving and hosting dignitaries at the Air Force Station Halwara. One notable instance was when he received Punjab Governor V.P. Singh Badnore and his wife at the airbase in December 2019. During this visit, Governor Badnore had the opportunity to fly in a Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft, an experience he described as "amazing" and "invigorating."
The presence of Air Commodore Anjan Bhadra at the airport to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his official visit to the United States demonstrates the importance of the occasion and the strong relationship between the two countries.
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Modi's visit aimed to strengthen ties with the US
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US aimed to strengthen ties between the two nations. Modi was received at the airport by senior officials of the Biden Administration and India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Hundreds of Indian Americans were also at Andrews Joint Airforce Base to welcome the Prime Minister.
Modi's visit to the US was an opportunity to strengthen the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and consolidate ties with Japan and Australia. During his visit, Modi met with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for bilateral discussions on strengthening India-US ties. He also met with top executives from major US tech companies, including Nvidia, Alphabet, and IBM, to encourage greater collaboration in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and semiconductors.
In addition to his meetings with US officials and business leaders, Modi participated in the Quad Leaders' Summit, which includes Australia, India, Japan, and the US. The summit provided an opportunity to take stock of the outcomes of the Quad leaders' virtual summit in March 2021 and identify priorities for future engagements based on their shared vision for the Indo-Pacific region. Modi also held bilateral meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison during his visit.
Modi's visit to the US underscored the deepening ties between the two countries, particularly in the areas of technology, defence, and regional security matters. The two nations also announced initiatives to strengthen their technology partnership, including the US-India TRUST initiative, a roadmap for advancing AI infrastructure, and INDUS Innovation. India and the US aim to achieve an annual bilateral trade target of USD 500 billion by 2030.
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Frequently asked questions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was received by senior officials of the Biden Administration and India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, at the Andrews Joint Airforce Base in Washington, DC.
Former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal has stated that it is uncommon for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to receive heads of state at the airport. Modi's presence at the airport is reflective of the importance India attaches to its strategic ties with the US.
A significant number of Indian Americans braved heavy rains to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Andrews Joint Airforce Base. Modi greeted the Indian-American community members and even stepped out of his car to meet people.
Modi visited the US to meet with President Joe Biden and participate in the Quad summit with the leaders of Japan, Australia, and the US. He also aimed to strengthen the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US and consolidate ties with Japan and Australia.
Yes, in a departure from protocol, Modi has personally received former US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the airport during their official visits to India.
