PM Modi holds 'fruitful' talks with Biden; exchanges views on global & regional issues, including Indo-Pacific and beyond

WILMINGTON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an "extremely fruitful" meeting with US President Joe Biden during which the two leaders discussed ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest and exchanged views on global and regional issues including the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

Modi, who is in the US on a three-day visit, was on Saturday welcomed by Biden at his residence in Greenville, Delaware, where the two leaders hugged each other. Biden held Modi's hand as he led him into the house where the bilateral talks took place.

"The United States' partnership with India is stronger, closer, and more dynamic than any time in history. Prime Minister Modi, each time we sit down, I'm struck by our ability to find new areas of cooperation. Today was no different," Biden said in a post on X after the meeting that lasted more than an hour.

The two leaders, who met on the margins of the Quad summit here, discussed ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest and exchanged views on global and regional issues including the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.

"The discussions centred on strengthening the India-USA partnership across areas of mutual interest. Both leaders exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific region as well as global issues," the Prime Minister's Office said in a post on X.

A joint statement issued after the meeting said the India-US partnership is "decisively delivering on an ambitious agenda that serves the global good", calling it the "defining partnership of the 21st century".

Modi and Biden expressed confidence in the strength and continuing resilience of the relationship and their belief in its significance for all areas of human endeavour between the two countries, the MEA statement said.

Modi emphasised that India and the US today enjoy a comprehensive global strategic partnership that covers all areas of human endeavour, driven by shared democratic values, convergence of interests and vibrant people-to-people ties.

"My meeting with President Biden will allow us to review and identify new pathways to further deepen India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership for the benefit of our people and the global good," Modi had said in his departure statement in New Delhi.

The two leaders reflected on a historic period that has seen the US and India reach "unprecedented levels of trust and collaboration", according to the joint statement. They affirmed that the partnership must be anchored to uphold democracy, freedom and the rule of law for all as India and the US strive to become "more perfect unions" and meet their "shared destiny", it said.

Biden commended Modi for his historic visits to Poland and Ukraine, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in decades, and for his message of peace and ongoing humanitarian support for Ukraine.

“I think the President and Prime Minister Modi discussed a range of global security issues, whether that's ranging from Ukraine, you just saw Prime Minister Modi recently did make a trip to Ukraine, as well as what's going on in the Indo-Pacific region," a senior administration official told reporters after the briefing.

"So every time they meet, they tend to talk through global issues broadly. Again, I'm not going to characterise the specifics of their conversation, but I think you can take a look at all of the visits that they've done recently and assume that they walk through all of the global issues of shared concern," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi conveyed his appreciation for the unparalleled contributions made by President Biden in giving impetus to the India-US partnership.

Recalling his State visit to the US in June 2023 and President Biden’s visit to India in September 2023 for the G-20 Leaders’ Summit, Modi said that the visits have imparted greater dynamism and depth to the India-US partnership.

"I thank President Biden for hosting me at his residence in Greenville, Delaware. Our talks were extremely fruitful. We had the opportunity to discuss regional and global issues during the meeting," Modi said in a post on X.

During the meeting, Biden said the US supports initiatives to reform global institutions to reflect India’s important voice, including permanent membership for India in a reformed UN Security Council.

The two leaders “expressed unrelenting optimism and the utmost confidence that the tireless efforts of our peoples, our civic and private sectors, and our governments to forge deeper bonds have set the US-India partnership on a path toward even greater heights in the decades ahead,” the statement said.

They also commended the progress that has made the US-India Major Defence Partnership a "pillar of global security and peace", highlighting the benefits of increased operational coordination, information-sharing, and defence industrial innovation.

They said a closer US-India partnership is vital to the success of efforts to build a "cleaner, inclusive, more secure, and more prosperous future for the planet".

The two leaders applauded the success of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in deepening and expanding strategic cooperation across key technology sectors and highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration with "like-minded partners", to build more secure and resilient supply chains for critical industries.

Modi and Biden hailed a watershed arrangement to establish a new semiconductor fabrication plant, which will be enabled by support from the India Semiconductor Mission as well as a strategic technology partnership between Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech, and the US Space Force.

They also welcomed progress toward the first joint effort by NASA and ISRO to conduct scientific research onboard the International Space Station in 2025 and appreciated the initiatives and exchange of ideas under the Civil Space Joint Working Group.

Recognising the "remarkable" progress under the US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, the two leaders welcomed efforts to expand defence industrial partnerships, including the teaming of Liquid Robotics and Sagar Defence Engineering for the co-development and co-production of unmanned surface vehicle systems that strengthen undersea and maritime domain awareness.

Biden and Modi welcomed the US-India Roadmap to Build Safe and Secure Global Clean Energy Supply Chains, which launched a new initiative to accelerate the expansion of safe and secure clean energy supply chains through US and Indian manufacturing of clean energy technologies and components.

In its initial phase, the US and India would work together to unlock USD 1 billion of multilateral financing to support projects across the clean energy value chain, said the joint statement.

During the meeting, respect for human rights and democracy were also discussed, according to a US official.

“I think every time we meet with all of our partners, we talk about human rights and respect for human rights and democracy. So I don't think this meeting is any different than any that we always have,” a senior administration official told reporters after the meeting between the two leaders.

No other details were shared by the senior administration official when asked if the assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar came up during the Modi-Biden bilateral. The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September last year of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar. India has dismissed Trudeau's charges as "absurd" and "motivated."

Modi was accompanied by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Ambassador of India to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra. The US team included Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs T H Jake Sullivan and Ambassador of the US to India Eric Garcetti.

"Further advancing the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. PM @narendramodi & @POTUS @JoeBiden held bilateral talks in Wilmington, Delaware today. In a special gesture, the meeting was hosted by President Biden at his residence," the MEA spokesperson said.

Modi also held separate bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who are here for the Quad Summit.

The annual Quad summit hosted by President Biden in his hometown Wilmington rolled out a series of new initiatives to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and explore ways to find peaceful solutions to the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

The four-member Quad, or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, advocates upholding a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. China claims that the grouping aims to contain its rise.

From Wilmington, Modi will travel to New York to attend an Indian community event at Long Island on Sunday and address the Summit of the Future at the UN General Assembly the next day.

The prime minister's other engagements include joining an Indian diaspora event at Long Island and participating in a round table with CEOs of American firms working on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing and semiconductors.

“I am eagerly looking forward to engaging with the Indian diaspora and important American business leaders, who are the key stakeholders and provide vibrancy to the unique partnership between the largest and the oldest democracies of the world,” Modi said.

“The Summit of the Future is an opportunity for the global community to chart the road ahead for the betterment of humanity. I will share the views of one-sixth of humanity as their stakes in a peaceful and secure future are among the highest in the world,” the prime minister said.

The 'Summit of the Future' will bring leaders from various countries to forge a new international consensus on how to deliver a “better present and safeguard the future,” according to the UN.