India agreed with the United States their partnership can help find solutions to several global issues.
NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON: In significant statement, India agreed with the United States the partnership between the two democracies can help find solutions to several global issues.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his virtual summit meeting with President Joseph Biden, recalled the latter’s assertion that the two nations are natural partners in this direction.
Diplomatic observers opine that Modi’s recalling Biden’s remarks made during the Indian premier’s US visit in September last are a clear indication of the need to work closely for ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Modi pointed out that Biden had said when he assumed power that ‘democracies can deliver’.
The two Leaders had an extensive exchange of views on several regional and global issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, global economic recovery, climate action, recent developments in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region, and the situation in Ukraine.
Modi pointedly said India condemned the killing of innocent civilians in the recent attack on Bucha in Ukraine and called for an independent inquiry into this.
Both leaders agreed that further strengthening of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership would be of tremendous benefit to the two countries, and would also contribute to global peace, prosperity and stability.
Modi recalled that he had spoken to the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine several times and appealed for peace. “I fact I have also suggested to Putin to talk to Ukraine president directly,” he said and pointed out Indian Parliament also discussed this issue elaborately.
On the humanitarian aid for Ukraine, Modi said India has been sending material the war-torn country and its neighbours to help people. “One more consignment will soon leave for Ukraine,” he said.
A White House statement meanwhile said President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to inaugurate the fourth U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. Together, they committed to strengthening the U.S.-India relationship through cooperation on clean energy, technology and military cooperation, and expanded economic and people-to-people ties. They also committed to continue cooperation – bilaterally and multilaterally – on ending the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening global health security, advancing global food security, and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.
They emphasized their shared commitment, as leaders of the world’s largest democracies, to respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. The two Leaders also discussed the destabilizing impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine, with a particular focus on global food supply.
President Biden and Prime Minister Modi looked forward to meeting in person later this spring, in Tokyo, for the Quad summit.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, who are in Washington DC for the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, were also present at the White House during the interaction, along with their US counterparts, Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
