Barack Obama on Narendra Modi

Barack Obama, as President, engaged directly with Narendra Modi, marking the first bilateral summit between the two leaders in September 2014. During this engagement, the former President recognized Modi's historic election victory and expressed commitment to deepening the U.S.-India partnership based on shared values and interests. Obama's administration effectively conferred a visa upon Modi, reversing the previous U.S. government's denial based on his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat violence. The former President even wrote an article in Time magazine calling Modi "India's reformer-in-chief" in 2015, highlighting his commitment to ambitious economic and social goals.

However, Obama's later perspective, documented in his memoir, showed a shift in tone, as he expressed concern regarding the "divisive nationalism touted by the BJP," Modi's party. While Obama welcomed Modi's stated commitment to economic liberalization during their initial meetings, his later writings indicated apprehension about the erosion of India's secular fabric under Modi's leadership. This suggests a mixed assessment, moving from high-level diplomatic cooperation focused on economic ties to a later, more critical stance on domestic policy and political direction.