Biden congratulates Modi on ‘historic’ win, sees US-India ties ‘only growing’

President Biden on Wednesday congratulated Narendra Modi and his National Democratic Alliance coalition for their victory in India’s general election.

“Congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Democratic Alliance on their victory, and the nearly 650 million voters in this historic election,” Biden said on the social platform X.

Modi secured a third term as India’s next prime minister, but his political party suffered a blow, winning by less than the expected margin despite the polls overwhelmingly indicating otherwise.

“The friendship between our nations is only growing as we unlock a shared future of unlimited potential,” Biden added.

Modi confirmed he received a phone call from Biden and said he was “happy to receive call from my friend President Joe Biden.”

“Deeply value his warm words of felicitations and his appreciation for the Indian democracy,” Modi said on X.

The Indian prime minister, who visited Washington on an official state visit a year ago, added that he also conveyed to Biden the “India-US Comprehensive Global Partnership is poised to witness many new landmarks in the years to come.”

“Our partnership will continue to be a force for global good for the benefit of humanity,” he added.

Biden’s congratulatory tweet came shortly after Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies unanimously elected Modi as the National Democratic Alliance leader on Wednesday.

He is likely to be sworn in Saturday, according to local media reports.

World leaders have continued to share their congratulatory messages to Modi on social media, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.