Free Republic

Rishi Sunak insisted India's attacks on 'terrorist infrastructure' in Pakistan are 'justified' today. The former PM waded in amid fears the confrontation between the nuclear-armed powers could escalate dramatically. Pakistan has described Delhi's missile attacks as an 'act of war' and responded with shelling on the Indian side of the line of control. However, Keir Starmer has been appealing for calm insisting the rising tensions were a 'serious concern'. In a post on X, Mr Sunak said: 'No nation should have to accept terrorist attacks being launched against it from land controlled by another country. 'India is justified in striking...

President Trump said after meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday that India will increase its purchases of American oil and military hardware, culminating in India’s purchase of the advanced F-35 fighter jet. “We’ll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We’re also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters,” Trump said at a joint press conference with Modi. Trump also said the U.S. will become “a leading supplier of oil and gas to India” under a new agreement that will help reduce America’s trade deficit with India. The...

Washington -- President-elect Donald Trump wants to travel to China after he takes office as part of his effort to deepen relations with Beijing, and also has talked to advisors about visit to India, a media report said Saturday. Trump, who arrived at the Dulles International Airport aboard a special plane along with First Lady Melania and son Barron, had during his election campaign threatened to impose additional tariffs on China. “President-elect Donald Trump has told advisors he wants to travel to China after he takes office, according to people familiar with the discussions, seeking to deepen a relationship with...

The South China Sea remains a flashpoint of escalating tensions as China intensifies its aggressive maritime activities, targeting nations like the Philippines CNS Admiral Dinesh Tripathi during his customary briefing of media before Navy Day last week expressed concern about Chinese maritime activities in the South China Sea, all of which China claims. Two countries it especially targets in SCS are Taiwan and the Philippines in whose waters it has indulged in offensive naval actions. It signed a defence agreement with the US in 1951; last month it signed an intelligence and technology agreement facilitating satellite intelligence and access to...

As the US presidential election continues, GOP leader Richard McCormick expressed strong confidence in Donald Trump’s path to victory, predicting a “sound” defeat for Kamala Harris in the race.As the US presidential election continues, GOP leader Richard McCormick expressed strong confidence in Donald Trump’s path to victory, predicting a “sound” defeat for Kamala Harris in the race. McCormick emphasized that Harris’ road to victory is narrow and unlikely, foreseeing a decisive loss for her in the election. Trump’s Victory Sees Key States Leaning Republican McCormick outlined the critical states that could determine the outcome, particularly focusing on Pennsylvania, which he...

US President Joe Biden ‘forgot’ to introduce Prime Minister Narendra Modi on stage during an event on Sunday. The octogenarian appeared visibly confused after addressing the Cancer Moonshot launch event and eventually asked what he was supposed to be doing next. “Who am I introducing next? Who's next?” he could be heard wondering aloud after his speech. The event moderator then intervened to announce PM Modi as the latter stepped forward to deliver his address. The outgoing POTUS has made headlines on several occasions for ‘freezing up’ during public interactions or completely forgetting his words. Concerns about his health and...

Revival of India's defence deals with Ukraine will be one of the key areas of focus for PM Modi since the supply chain has been disrupted by the ongoing war with Russia. The ripple effects of this damage have been felt globally, making the potential discussions on defence during the visit all the more significant "In 2023, the Ukrainian defence industry produced weapons and equipment worth $3 billion, adding 1.5% to the country's GDP growth", wrote Wilson Center in its 'Defense Technology Investment in Ukraine Is Attractive but Awaits Greater Risk Insurance'. The report also highlights the challenges and opportunities...

Polls in the world’s largest democracy India will open on April 19, the country’s election commissioner announced on Saturday, setting the stage for a nationwide election expected to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi clinch a rare third consecutive term. An estimated 960 million people in a country of 1.4 billion are eligible to vote in the widely anticipated polls that will take a month to complete. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to secure another five years in power, ruling an India that has become increasingly polarized along religious lines. Polling will unfold over seven phases around the country...

Kash Patel an Indian-American whose parents trace their roots to Gujarat and migrated to the US from East Africa during Idi Amin’s rule in Uganda Washington: Kash Patel is a senior advisor to former US President Donald J Trump, the most likely nominee for the Republican ticket for presidential elections this year. Patel served in senior positions in the National Security Council and other government agencies and eventually became the chief of staff to the Department of Defence during the Trump presidency. He also travelled with Trump to India in 2020. An Indian-American whose parents trace their roots to Gujarat...

[Uncompromising condemnation of the Hamas attack at the beginning of the war - Narendra Modi] Since 1948, India has not supported Israel's wars even once. In the past, it supported its enemies, and even sent Arab countries aid. A few hours since the images of the massacre taking place in the south of Israel began to flow on the morning of October 7, a series of condemnations from world leaders began to accumulate. One condemnation was particularly historic: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the leader of the world's largest democracy and one of its most popular leaders, tweeted his uncompromising...

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they arrived in Ahmedabad this afternoon for a 36-hour visit to India.

BENGALURU — After claiming to have landed near the south pole of the Moon, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) released what they claim is the first photo taken by their lunar lander. Unfortunately, several critics have called the authenticity of the photo into question as it features Bollywood dancers, an astronaut on a tiger, and a man riding a rocket narrowly escaping an explosion as he backflips onto the lunar surface. "Hmmmm, If I didn't know better, I'd say this photo was elaborately staged by a Bollywood film crew," said NASA engineer Ron McNeebles. "I'm not a zoologist, but...

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) challenged Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) to a fight on the House floor, according to reports. The situation turned aggressive after Swalwell blasted McCarthy over Rep. Adam Schiff’s (D-CA) censure vote. On June 21, the day Republicans voted to censure Schiff, Swalwell was standing in the well of the House near the speaker’s podium and heckled McCarthy. “This is pathetic,” Swalwell yelled at McCarthy, who was presiding over the House at the time. “You’re weak. You’re a weak man.” McCarthy was furious, with one member telling The Daily Beast, “He had a vein popping out of...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Biden wore a ceremonial feathered headdress today as he welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official state visit. "Are we ready to pass around the peace pipe?" asked President Biden. "I'm just kidding — I can't smoke peyote before lunch! It gives me the tummy rumbles! Not a joke!" In preparation for Mr. Modi's visit, President Biden reportedly spent several hours mastering a traditional rain dance. "Are you ready to make it rain, chief?" Biden asked Mr. Modi as he began the dance. "Took me two weeks to get all these tomahawk chop moves...

President Biden caused an awkward spectacle Thursday morning, putting his hand on his heart for the Indian national anthem as he welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House. The 80-year-old commander in chief rolled out the red carpet for Modi, who has served as India’s prime minister since 2014, as part of a state visit to bolster the Washington-New Delhi alliance amid mounting tensions with Russia and China. The two, joined by about 7,000 guests, were treated to music from the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and a multi-gun salute as they stood shoulder...

In a controversial move, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has announced her decision to skip Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the US Congress during his ongoing state visit to the United States. Omar, who has been accused of hinduphobia by various Hindu groups in the US, cited concerns over the Indian government's treatment of religious minorities and alleged support for Hindu nationalist groups.

A seventh flight carrying almost three tons of relief material - sleeping mats, electrical generators, solar lamps, tarpaulins, blankets, emergency and critical care medicines - landed in earthquake-hit Turkey from India this week. The Indian government has extended a hand of friendship to crisis-hit Turkey and Syria in the form of massive humanitarian aid, with transport aircraft carrying relief material as part of Operation Dost, "friend" in both Hindi and Turkish. With the death toll from the Turkey-Syria earthquakes now in the tens of thousands after the disaster on 6 February, a global rescue effort is underway to aid the...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday that "now is not an era of war," marking the first public criticism of Putin's invasion of Ukraine after months of neutrality, as India balances its reliance on Russia for military equipment and about one-fifth of its oil imports. KEY FACTS In their first meeting since the start of the war, Modi told Putin, “I know that today’s era is not of war,” adding that the biggest issues in the world today, especially in developing countries, are “food security, fuel security, fertilizers,” according to a translation of...

Shared U.S.-Indian concerns over China's aggressive expansionism led Modi to join the "Quad" partnership alongside the U.S., Australia, and Japan. Benefiting from military export relaxations introduced by the Trump administration, India is also increasing its purchase of U.S. arms and related equipment. Yet even as this cooperation might seem like proof positive of a budding U.S.-Indian alliance, other factors undermine that consideration. For a start, India fails the reciprocity test when it comes to supporting U.S. security concerns. The Pentagon has not responded to my query as to whether the U.S. military attachés in New Delhi are to be afforded...

[Caption] It’s a tightrope walk for the grouping at a time when US-China trade war has reached a peak. After having a bitter experience with Putin, Biden may need to maintain more restraint, simply to avoid another catastrophe in the Indo-Pacific The May 24 face-to-face meeting of the Quad leaders is considered very crucial against the backdrop of the ongoing Ukraine war. All the four heads of the Governments -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US president Joe Biden, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese -- came together on a platform to display strength and...