Joint Op-Ed By PM Modi-Obama Tomorrow, Newspaper Not Disclosed
WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama, both believers in technology and digital diplomacy, collaborated across distances on a rare joint editorial that will be published in a prominent American newspaper on Tuesday.
The idea of a joint editorial was born after PM Modi’s op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal last week, just before he headed to the US for first visit since taking power in May. The editorial was finalized only when PM Modi arrived in Washington, foreign ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told reporters.
To question about the logistics involved in the two leaders writing a joint editorial, he said, “Both PM Modi and President Obama are great believers of digital diplomacy and had digital contact. It is very easy to digitally interact through electronic means.” He did not elaborate, but the use of email correspondence was assumed.
Officials have been very secretive about the joint op-ed and have not even revealed the name of the newspaper that will publish it.”It was only finalized this evening after the Prime Minister’s arrival here, so we couldn’t tell you in advance,” Mr Akbaruddin told reporters.
It is the first time that an Indian leader and American president have collaborated in a joint editorial, he confirmed.PM Modi and President Obama met for the first time on Monday evening for dinner at the White House. The two leaders shared anecdotes about their early days in power and their love for technology in what was described as a “getting-to-know-each-other” meeting. More substantive talks will be held on Tuesday.
