Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his three-day visit to the United States, met with President Joe Biden on Saturday morning (local time) for a crucial bilateral discussion. The leaders are expected to focus on pressing topics, including relations with China and Russia.
The meeting took place at President Biden’s personal residence and featured key members from both delegations. The US delegation included Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti. The Indian side comprised External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
This meeting may mark a significant moment in US-India relations, as it could be one of the last between the two leaders before Biden’s term ends. The upcoming 2024 US Presidential Election is set for November 5, 2024, with Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee after Biden announced he would not seek re-election.
Jake Sullivan highlighted the meeting’s focus areas, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and India’s position on Russia and China. He emphasized that Russia’s actions violate international norms and expressed the expectation that countries like India should support the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, refraining from supplying resources to Russia’s military efforts.
“I won’t go into specifics, but it’s clear that the President will hear from Prime Minister Modi about his important trip to Ukraine, and they will discuss their perspectives on the way forward,” Sullivan said.
The leaders will also address China’s activities in the Indo-Pacific region. Sullivan clarified that discussions surrounding the Quad—comprised of the US, India, Australia, and Japan—are aimed at ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, rather than being centered solely on China.
“The QUAD is about constructing a free and open Indo-Pacific. While we will address actions that disrupt this vision, it is not solely focused on one country,” he added.
Following their meeting, both leaders are scheduled to participate in a summit-level gathering of the Quad, where they will assess progress over the past year and establish goals for the future to support the Indo-Pacific region.
The Quad Leaders’ Summit has evolved significantly since its inception, with the first virtual summit held in 2021 and subsequent in-person gatherings in Washington, DC, and Japan. The fifth summit took place in Hiroshima on May 20, 2023, setting the stage for ongoing collaboration among the member nations.
(Inputs from ANI)