Joe Biden (L) and Narendra Modi in New Delhi. (Photo courtesy: POTUS/X)
New Delhi: The president of the United States, Joe Biden, reached the national capital to attend the Group of Twenty, or G20, summit, on Friday. After arriving in the city, the US president held a bilateral meeting with the prime minister, Narendra Modi, where they discussed a range of issues, mostly from where they left in Washington DC during Modi’s first state visit there in June.
Soon after the meeting, the two countries issued a 29-point joint statement in which they said: “The leaders called on their governments to continue the work of transforming the India-US Strategic Partnership across all dimensions of our multifaceted global agenda, based on trust and mutual understanding. The leaders re-emphasized that the shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, inclusion, pluralism, and equal opportunities for all citizens are critical to the success our countries enjoy and that these values strengthen our relationship.”
The two countries also emphasized on strengthening the Quadrilateral Dialogue, or Quad, for a “free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific”. It also said: “India welcomed the US decision to co-lead the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative Pillar on Trade Connectivity and Maritime Transport, further to the US decision to join IPOI in June 2023.”
Backing India’s bid for a permanent seat in a reformed United Nations security council, the US said: “Biden reaffirmed his support for a reformed UN security council with India as a permanent member, and, in this context, welcomed once again India’s candidature for the UNSC non-permanent seat in 2028-29.” The statement further said Modi and Biden once again emphasized on the need to “strengthen and reform” the council so it may “better reflect contemporary realities”.
As India Sentinels had reported earlier, India is looking to procure 31 armed Predator B drones from the US for all the three services of the armed forces – Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. On this, Friday’s joint statement said: “Biden welcomed the issuance of a letter of request from India’s defence ministry to procure 31 General Atomics MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) remotely piloted aircraft and their associated equipment.”
The US also reaffirmed its support for India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, or NSG, and “committed to continue engagement with like-minded partners” to quicken it. It may be noted that China has been continuously blocking India’s bid to be an NSG member, which has affected New Delhi’s attempts to procure/access advanced nuclear technology and fissile material, like uranium, from members of this elite group.
The India-US joint statement also mentioned a range of other issues and areas where the two countries have promised to cooperate and/or back each other. They include healthcare, green technology, mechanisms to address trade disputes, defence cooperation and knowledge sharing, cooperation on semiconductors, etc.
The full India-US joint statement can be read here. (External link.)
