News Analysis India

Tag: Joe Biden

  • US Senate confirms former Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti as envoy to India 

    By PTI

    WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s close aide Eric Garcetti was confirmed on Wednesday by the US Senate as the country’s next ambassador to India, filling the key diplomatic position that had been vacant for more than two years.

    The Senate voted 52-42 to confirm his nomination.

    The former Los Angeles mayor’s nomination was pending before the US Congress since July 2021 when he was nominated for the prestigious diplomatic posting by Biden.

    Last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 13-8 in favour of his nomination.

    “The relationship between India and the US is a strong one, and one of great strategic, economic, and cultural importance. Founded on shared values, supported by growing economic and trade ties, and strengthened by the Indian diaspora here in the US, this partnership continues to hold significant promise for the future,” Senator Mark Warner, Co-Chair of Senate India Caucus, said.

    “As co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, I am glad that there will finally be a Senate-confirmed ambassador in New Delhi,” Warner said.

    His nomination was not brought to the Senate floor for a vote during the last Congress as the ruling Democratic Party did not have enough support to get the 52-year-old close aide of Biden through.

    Garcetti was not confirmed by the Senate in President Biden’s first two years in office amid concerns by some lawmakers that the then-mayor had not adequately handled allegations against a former senior adviser of sexual assault and harassment.

    President Biden renominated Garcetti to the same position in January this year.

    Kenneth Juster, the last occupant of the ambassadorial residence of the US in New Delhi, stepped down in January 2021 after the change of government in America. 

    WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s close aide Eric Garcetti was confirmed on Wednesday by the US Senate as the country’s next ambassador to India, filling the key diplomatic position that had been vacant for more than two years.

    The Senate voted 52-42 to confirm his nomination.

    The former Los Angeles mayor’s nomination was pending before the US Congress since July 2021 when he was nominated for the prestigious diplomatic posting by Biden.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 13-8 in favour of his nomination.

    “The relationship between India and the US is a strong one, and one of great strategic, economic, and cultural importance. Founded on shared values, supported by growing economic and trade ties, and strengthened by the Indian diaspora here in the US, this partnership continues to hold significant promise for the future,” Senator Mark Warner, Co-Chair of Senate India Caucus, said.

    “As co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, I am glad that there will finally be a Senate-confirmed ambassador in New Delhi,” Warner said.

    His nomination was not brought to the Senate floor for a vote during the last Congress as the ruling Democratic Party did not have enough support to get the 52-year-old close aide of Biden through.

    Garcetti was not confirmed by the Senate in President Biden’s first two years in office amid concerns by some lawmakers that the then-mayor had not adequately handled allegations against a former senior adviser of sexual assault and harassment.

    President Biden renominated Garcetti to the same position in January this year.

    Kenneth Juster, the last occupant of the ambassadorial residence of the US in New Delhi, stepped down in January 2021 after the change of government in America.
     

  • 2022, a historic and remarkable year for India-US relations

    By PTI

    WASHINGTON:  The year 2022 has been a remarkable and historic year for the India-US relationship, top diplomats and experts from both sides feel and are confident that 2023 would be a momentous year for the ties between the world’s largest and oldest democracies that will determine the future of technology and innovation.

    During the year, President Joe Biden met Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice – first on the sidelines of the Quad summit in Tokyo in May and second on the margins of the G-20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken here in September and held productive discussions on the entire gamut of Indo-US relations and the way forward.

    “2022 saw further consolidation of the India-US bilateral partnership in the direction and vision set by Prime Minister Modi and President Biden,” India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, told PTI as the year comes to an end.

    The intensity of high-level engagements continued in the form of Quad and Bilateral Summits in Tokyo, the 2+2 Ministerial Meeting in Washington DC, and visits by senior members of the Cabinet in both directions, he said.

    The year also saw the resolution of some old market access issues, the first-ever maintenance of a US Naval Ship in India, the Quad focus on STEM, the signing of an Investment Incentive Agreement, the launch of Technology Innovation Hubs as a collaboration of the respective science agencies, record level of trade and investments, etc, said Sandhu. “Our strategic convergences deepened, new initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) were launched while others such as I2U2 were strengthened,” Sandhu said in response to a question.

    Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu concurred with Ambassador Sandhu’s take on the bilateral ties, saying that he believes that the India-US relationship is one of the most consequential relationships in the world. This relationship, he asserted, will determine whether Asia remains free and democratic. “It will determine the future of technology and innovation. And increasingly, it will determine whether we will be successful in combating climate change,” he said.

    “This has been a remarkable and historic year for our relations,” Lu told PTI in response to a question.

    “We have successfully worked in both countries to move beyond the acute phase of COVID-19 and supported millions of people around the world with innovative vaccines,” he said.

    “We have worked together in the Quad to launch the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness and the Partnership for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. We launched the US-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment which is working to support entrepreneurship and mentoring of women business leaders,” he said.

    Observing that the bedrock of this relationship has always been the people-to-people relationship, the senior American diplomat said more than 1 million people travel back and forth each year between the two nations. “This year we had a record number of Indian students studying in the United States, nearly 200,000. Our bilateral trade this year is on track to exceed last year’s record of USD 157 billion. This has been a very good year indeed,” Lu said.

    OPINION | Quad spreads its wings, but how high can it soar?

    According to Mukesh Aghi, president, and CEO of the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum, 2022 was “a momentous year” for US-India relations, as the two nations celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations.

    These 75 years symbolized a long journey that had humble beginnings from the Cold War era, long before India’s own economic growth story, he noted. Today, the relationship, which has been dubbed as the most important strategic partner of the 21st century, has moved long beyond symbolic platitudes between the world’s oldest and largest democracy to robust engagements across trade, defence, climate, and technology, Aghi said.

    Despite the pandemic, the bilateral trade between India and the US crossed the USD 100 billion mark in 2021, and in 2022, official figures state that the overall US-India bilateral trade in goods and services reached a record USD 157 billion, a drastic increase from the 2020 trade figures, he said.

    “The year 2022 has seen deep collaboration between various ministries and not just between the key principals and the Foreign Minister and Secretary of State. On the finance side, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s recent visit to India and meeting with her counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman. On the energy front, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri recently worked with his counterpart, Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm on the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership, and of course Minister Piyush Goyal and USTR Katherine Tai are in regular conversations on trade,” Aghi told PTI.

    Next year is going to take the relationship to a new level.

    “As we usher in 2023, I am confident that the bilateral relationship would cement even further to address the challenges of tomorrow, continuing to be a partnership for global good. India’s G-20 Presidency and the commonalities that India’s priorities as President have with the US will also be a significant factor in this,” Sandhu told PTI when asked about the India-US relationship in 2023.

    Excited about what lies ahead in 2023, Lu said India has the G20 presidency for the first time, and the United States looks forward to working closely with India at all levels of government in support of this important position.

    PHOTOS | Indo-US joint military exercises in full swing; kites and dogs get trained, too

    “This year we plan to move forward on intensive collaboration in the defence and clean energy fields. We have committed ourselves to support Prime Minister Modi’s Make in India efforts through more co-production of cutting-edge defence technologies in India,” Lu told PTI.

    “We are also working to provide the technology and financing to support the Prime Minister’s vision of 500 gigawatts of installed non-fossil fuel energy by 2030. We are collaborating in solar, wind, civilian nuclear, green hydrogen, and thermal energy projects. Together we can change the planet,” he said.

    “I am bullish about prospects for cooperation in the year ahead,” Lu said.

    In the year 2023, Aghi said the Russia-Ukraine conflict will continue to dominate global affairs as both Washington and New Delhi along with their G20 partners work to secure and prevent escalating energy prices and the shortage arising from food grains.

    There is also room for synergy not just in tech but space collaboration, as India and the US both have scientific prowess and with increased privatization and a growing list of unicorns in India, space tech startups will be a new engine of economic growth and scientific synergy, he said.

    “Most importantly, in 2023, India will be the President for the G20 summit. India’s G20 Presidency propels its role as an emerging leader in the global scenario. The leadership also gives a stronger voice to the challenges faced by the developing world as New Delhi leads the way with its increasingly growing economy,” he said.

    “India has already outlined priorities for G20 2023 pertaining to climate action, critical and emerging technologies, resilient supply chains, and vaccines. New Delhi can strive towards building an inclusive ecosystem with holistic mechanisms to address key global issues for the private sector,” Aghi said.

    WASHINGTON:  The year 2022 has been a remarkable and historic year for the India-US relationship, top diplomats and experts from both sides feel and are confident that 2023 would be a momentous year for the ties between the world’s largest and oldest democracies that will determine the future of technology and innovation.

    During the year, President Joe Biden met Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice – first on the sidelines of the Quad summit in Tokyo in May and second on the margins of the G-20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken here in September and held productive discussions on the entire gamut of Indo-US relations and the way forward.

    “2022 saw further consolidation of the India-US bilateral partnership in the direction and vision set by Prime Minister Modi and President Biden,” India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, told PTI as the year comes to an end.

    The intensity of high-level engagements continued in the form of Quad and Bilateral Summits in Tokyo, the 2+2 Ministerial Meeting in Washington DC, and visits by senior members of the Cabinet in both directions, he said.

    The year also saw the resolution of some old market access issues, the first-ever maintenance of a US Naval Ship in India, the Quad focus on STEM, the signing of an Investment Incentive Agreement, the launch of Technology Innovation Hubs as a collaboration of the respective science agencies, record level of trade and investments, etc, said Sandhu. “Our strategic convergences deepened, new initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) were launched while others such as I2U2 were strengthened,” Sandhu said in response to a question.

    Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu concurred with Ambassador Sandhu’s take on the bilateral ties, saying that he believes that the India-US relationship is one of the most consequential relationships in the world. This relationship, he asserted, will determine whether Asia remains free and democratic. “It will determine the future of technology and innovation. And increasingly, it will determine whether we will be successful in combating climate change,” he said.

    “This has been a remarkable and historic year for our relations,” Lu told PTI in response to a question.

    “We have successfully worked in both countries to move beyond the acute phase of COVID-19 and supported millions of people around the world with innovative vaccines,” he said.

    “We have worked together in the Quad to launch the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness and the Partnership for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. We launched the US-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment which is working to support entrepreneurship and mentoring of women business leaders,” he said.

    Observing that the bedrock of this relationship has always been the people-to-people relationship, the senior American diplomat said more than 1 million people travel back and forth each year between the two nations. “This year we had a record number of Indian students studying in the United States, nearly 200,000. Our bilateral trade this year is on track to exceed last year’s record of USD 157 billion. This has been a very good year indeed,” Lu said.

    OPINION | Quad spreads its wings, but how high can it soar?

    According to Mukesh Aghi, president, and CEO of the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum, 2022 was “a momentous year” for US-India relations, as the two nations celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations.

    These 75 years symbolized a long journey that had humble beginnings from the Cold War era, long before India’s own economic growth story, he noted. Today, the relationship, which has been dubbed as the most important strategic partner of the 21st century, has moved long beyond symbolic platitudes between the world’s oldest and largest democracy to robust engagements across trade, defence, climate, and technology, Aghi said.

    Despite the pandemic, the bilateral trade between India and the US crossed the USD 100 billion mark in 2021, and in 2022, official figures state that the overall US-India bilateral trade in goods and services reached a record USD 157 billion, a drastic increase from the 2020 trade figures, he said.

    “The year 2022 has seen deep collaboration between various ministries and not just between the key principals and the Foreign Minister and Secretary of State. On the finance side, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s recent visit to India and meeting with her counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman. On the energy front, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri recently worked with his counterpart, Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm on the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership, and of course Minister Piyush Goyal and USTR Katherine Tai are in regular conversations on trade,” Aghi told PTI.

    Next year is going to take the relationship to a new level.

    “As we usher in 2023, I am confident that the bilateral relationship would cement even further to address the challenges of tomorrow, continuing to be a partnership for global good. India’s G-20 Presidency and the commonalities that India’s priorities as President have with the US will also be a significant factor in this,” Sandhu told PTI when asked about the India-US relationship in 2023.

    Excited about what lies ahead in 2023, Lu said India has the G20 presidency for the first time, and the United States looks forward to working closely with India at all levels of government in support of this important position.

    PHOTOS | Indo-US joint military exercises in full swing; kites and dogs get trained, too

    “This year we plan to move forward on intensive collaboration in the defence and clean energy fields. We have committed ourselves to support Prime Minister Modi’s Make in India efforts through more co-production of cutting-edge defence technologies in India,” Lu told PTI.

    “We are also working to provide the technology and financing to support the Prime Minister’s vision of 500 gigawatts of installed non-fossil fuel energy by 2030. We are collaborating in solar, wind, civilian nuclear, green hydrogen, and thermal energy projects. Together we can change the planet,” he said.

    “I am bullish about prospects for cooperation in the year ahead,” Lu said.

    In the year 2023, Aghi said the Russia-Ukraine conflict will continue to dominate global affairs as both Washington and New Delhi along with their G20 partners work to secure and prevent escalating energy prices and the shortage arising from food grains.

    There is also room for synergy not just in tech but space collaboration, as India and the US both have scientific prowess and with increased privatization and a growing list of unicorns in India, space tech startups will be a new engine of economic growth and scientific synergy, he said.

    “Most importantly, in 2023, India will be the President for the G20 summit. India’s G20 Presidency propels its role as an emerging leader in the global scenario. The leadership also gives a stronger voice to the challenges faced by the developing world as New Delhi leads the way with its increasingly growing economy,” he said.

    “India has already outlined priorities for G20 2023 pertaining to climate action, critical and emerging technologies, resilient supply chains, and vaccines. New Delhi can strive towards building an inclusive ecosystem with holistic mechanisms to address key global issues for the private sector,” Aghi said.

  • Biden to make first live talk show appearance as President with Jimmy Kimmel

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: US President Joe Biden, who’s seeing his approval ratings drop as petrol prices go up and so does the rate of inflation, will serve as a guest on Wednesday night’s broadcast of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on the American television network, ABC.

    Biden, according to ‘Variety’, will appear in person on the late night talk show for an interview at the production’s studio at L.A.’s El Capitan Entertainment Centre on Hollywood Boulevard.

    The announcement was made on Sunday afternoon by the talk show host during the broadcast of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live: NBA Finals Game Night’, which was a part of the network’s broadcast of Game 2 of the NBA Finals between Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors.

    Biden’s conversation with Kimmel will mark his first in-studio appearance on a late night talk show after being inaugurated in January 2021. He last appeared on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ in September 2019, in the midst of his campaign during the Democratic Party presidential primary.

    Biden was a guest on NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ in December 2021, but his conversation was formatted as a video interview as he did not visit the production’s studio. He has also appeared as a guest on CBS’s ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’, most recently in September 2019.

  • BTS speaks with President Joe Biden about anti-Asian hate crimes

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: For the final day of Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage, K-pop supergroup BTS stopped by the White House on Tuesday to speak with US President Joe Biden about Asian inclusion and representation.

    Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre introduced the group and RM kicked off the press conference in English by introducing themselves and thanking the White House and Biden for the opportunity to speak on “the important issues of anti-Asian hate crimes, Asian inclusion and diversity,” reports ‘Variety’.

    Then, each of the guys took turns speaking in Korean with Jin and Jimin expressing how honoured they were to be standing for their community at the White House on the last day of AAPI Month.

    Jimin said: “We were devastated by the recent surge of hate crimes to put a stop to this and support the cause, we’d like to take this opportunity to (lend our voices).”

    J Hope added: “We are here today thanks to our Army – our fans worldwide – who have different nationalities and cultures and use different languages. We are truly and always grateful.”

    Jungkook concluded their speech by sharing that the band was “still surprised that music created by South Korean artists reaches so many people around the world… we believe music is always an amazing and wonderful unifier of all things.”

    Suga also added, “It’s not wrong to be different, equality begins when we open up and embrace all of our differences.”

    V said: “We hope today is one step forward to respecting and understanding each and everyone as a valuable person.”

    In total, over a quarter-million people tuned in to see the band speak on the White House’s YouTube livestream.

    Amid last year’s spike of anti-Asian hate crimes in the US, BTS spoke out about their own experience with discrimination via Twitter saying: “We cannot put into words the pain of becoming the subject of hatred and violence for such a reason. Our own experiences are inconsequential compared to the events that have occurred over the past few weeks. But these experiences were enough to make us feel powerless and chip away our self-esteem.”

    In May of 2021, Biden signed a bipartisan bill geared at addressing the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes into law in May 2021. The bill was introduced to aid the reporting of hate crimes, making them more easily accessible at the local and state levels by boosting public outreach.

    As a part of this year’s AANHPI Heritage Month, Biden issued a proclamation late last month about the contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the country’s history and culture.

    He and Vice President Kamala Harris – who is half Indian – also hosted a White House reception earlier in the month that included US Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

    Two days later, the White House lauded the passage of legislation to establish a commission to study the possible creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture.

    In recent months the President has welcomed several performers, including Olivia Rodrigo and the Jonas Brothers, to the White House, most often as part of vaccination efforts.

  • Ukraine, wheat ban to be discussed at Biden-Modi meet: US NSA

    By IANS

    WASHINGTON:  The Russian invasion of Ukraine and Indian restrictions on wheat exports will be among a range of issues that will figure at the upcoming meeting of the Quad in Tokyo next week and the bilateral between American President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the US has said.

    Modi and Biden will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australia’s newly elected Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, for the second in-person summit of the Quad, short for Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, on Tuesday in Tokyo.The two leaders will also meet bilaterally, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed in a gaggle with reporters travelling with Biden from South Korea to Japan, the second leg of his first trip to Asia as President.India and the US have not been on the same page on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. New Delhi has not condemned the invasion withstanding unrelenting pressure from the US and others such as the UK, who had, together with their other allies, have come to Ukraine’s aid with money and materiel with the stated intention of driving back the army of Russian President Vladimir Putin.The issue was discussed at the highest level between President Biden and Prime Minister Modi when they met virtually in March for a Quad meeting. They discussed it again in a short video conversation that kicked off the 2+2 ministerial dialogue in April. And they will discuss it again.”It won’t be a new conversation. It will be a continuation of the conversation they’ve already had about how we see the picture in Ukraine and the impacts of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine on a wider set of concerns in the world, including this food security concern,” Sullivan said in response to a question if Ukraine will come up at the meeting of the two leaders.Asked if the US would push India on wheat exports, the National Security Adviser said “food security will be a topic of conversation at the Quad”.India’s ban on export of wheat has raised international concerns with western leaders calling for New Delhi to behave more responsibly as the world grapples with shortages caused by the war � Russia and Ukraine together account for about 29 per cent of global wheat exports, and India is the world’s fourth largest producer of wheat after China, the US, and Russia.Sullivan was also asked a general question about how the Biden administration balanced the priority it accords to democratic and human rights in its foreign policy with the accusations of “human rights abuses and maligning Muslim minorities” in India.”President Biden has been clear from the beginning of this administration that we’ll speak out when we see any form of departure from or deviation from basic principles, fundamental freedoms, human rights, the values of democratic institutions, and the rule of law. That’s true for a range of countries. And, you know, we don’t single India out,” he said.He added: “We have found a way both to pursue practical cooperation with countries that are democratic and non-democratic, while, at the same time, being clear and consistent of where our values lie.”Human rights have become a new source of friction in India-US ties. From ignoring them as in the past, the Modi government has been increasingly more confrontational.External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during his last visit to the US for 2+2 ministerial dialogue, said: “People are entitled to have views about us. We also are entitled to have views about their lobbies and vote banks. We will not be reticent. We also have views on other people’s human rights, particularly when it pertains to our community.” He had meant the US, though he was not that specific in this instance.

  • Situation in Ukraine “very worrisome”: PM Modi at virtual meeting with President Biden

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: President Joe Biden on Monday said the US and India will continue consultations to cope with the “destabilising” effects of the Russian war in Ukraine during a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who highlighted the need for direct talks between President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart to resolve the crisis.

    In his televised opening remarks, Modi called the situation in Ukraine “very worrisome” and hoped that the ongoing dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv will lead to peace.

    A readout by the White House said Modi and Biden discussed the “destabilising impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine, with a particular focus on global food supply”.

    In his remarks, Modi said the recent reports of killings of innocent civilians in Bucha city were very concerning and that India immediately condemned it and demanded a fair investigation.

    The prime minister referred to his phone conversations with the Ukrainian and Russian presidents and said he suggested to Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold direct talks with his Ukrainian counterpart.

    The virtual meeting came in the midst of some disquiet in Washington over India’s position on the Ukraine crisis as well as its decision to procure discounted Russian oil.

    In his remarks Biden talked about the strong India-US defence partnership, stressing that both the countries are going to “continue our close consultation on how to manage the destabilizing effects of this Russian war”.

    “Our today’s talks are taking place at a time when the situation in Ukraine remains very worrisome. Till a few weeks ago, more than 20,000 Indians were stranded in Ukraine. And most of these were young students,” Modi said.

    The prime minister also noted that an Indian student lost his life in Ukraine. “After a lot of hard work, we were able to get them out of there safely, although one student lost his life. Throughout this development, I spoke on the phone several times with the Presidents of both Ukraine and Russia,” he said.

    “Not only did I appeal for peace, but I also suggested President Putin to have direct talks with the President of Ukraine. The subject of Ukraine has been discussed in great detail in our Parliament as well,” Modi added.

    The Modi-Biden meeting took place ahead of the fourth India-US ‘2+2’ dialogue in Washington which will be led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the Indian side and their US counterparts, Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony J Blinken.

    Singh, Jaishankar, Austin and Blinken were at the White House during the Modi-Biden talks.

    “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,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

    It said Modi and Biden also took stock of the significant progress made in bilateral relations in recent years.

    “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,” it said.

    In his remarks, Biden said continued consultation and dialogue between India and the US are key to ensuring that the relationship keeps growing “deeper and stronger delivering our people and our global good that we all are seeking to manage particularly in your part of the world.”

    “I want to welcome India’s humanitarian support for the people of Ukraine who are suffering the horrific assault including a tragic shelling on a train station last week that killed dozens of innocent children, women and civilians attempting to flee the violence,” Biden said.

    “The root of our partnership is a deep connection between our people, ties of family, of friendship and of shared values,” the US president said.

    At the meeting, Modi also talked about India’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

    “We have also placed importance on the safety of civilian people in Ukraine and the uninterrupted supply of humanitarian aid to them and which you have just mentioned in the beginning,” Modi said.

    “On our behalf, we have sent medicines and other relief materials to Ukraine and its neighbouring countries. And on the demand of Ukraine we are sending another consignment of medicines very soon,” he said.

    The prime minister also referred to Biden’s slogan at the very beginning of his that ‘democracies can deliver’. “The success of India-US partnership is the best way to make this slogan meaningful,” he said.

    Referring to the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, Modi said he was confident that India-US friendship will be an integral part of India’s development journey for the next 25 years.

    “In September last year, when I came to Washington, and which you have just mentioned, you said that the India-US partnership can contribute to resolving many global problems. I completely agree with you,” Modi said. “As the world’s two largest and oldest democracies, we are natural partners,” he said.

    The White House said the two leaders committed to strengthening the US-India relationship through cooperation on clean energy, technology and military cooperation, and expanded economic and people-to-people ties.

    “They also committed to continuing 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,” it said.

    “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 White House said.

    Unlike its Quad partner countries, India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it abstained from the votes at the UN platforms on the Russian aggression.

    India has been pressing for an immediate cessation of violence in Ukraine and seeking a resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue.

    Modi has held phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, March 2 and March 7. He had also spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy twice.

    In a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on April 1, Modi conveyed that India stands ready to contribute in any way to the peace efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

  • PM Modi and US President hold virtual meeting

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: In a virtual meeting with US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday night hoped that the ongoing talks between Russia and Ukraine will pave the way for peace in the conflict-torn country.

    In his opening remarks, Modi described the recent reports of the killing of innocent civilians in Bucha city as “very worrying” and said India immediately condemned it and demanded a fair investigation.

    The prime minister referred to his phone conversation with the Presidents of both Ukraine and Russia. “‘I suggested President Putin have direct talks with the President of Ukraine,” Modi said.

    “As the world’s two largest and oldest democracies, we are natural partners,” Modi said on ties with the US, adding, “Our talks today are taking place at a time when the situation in Ukraine remains very worrying.” On his part, Biden welcomed India’s humanitarian support for the people of Ukraine.

    The US President said US and India are going to continue their close consultation on how to manage and stabilise the effects of this Russian war. He also referred to the strong and growing defence partnership between India and the US.

    The Modi-Biden meeting took place ahead of the fourth India-US ‘2+2’ dialogue in Washington which will be led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the Indian side and their US counterparts, Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony J Blinken.

    The virtual meeting comes in the midst of some disquiet in Washington over India’s position on the Ukraine crisis as well as its decision to procure discounted Russian oil.

    The US President last spoke to Modi and other Quad leaders during a virtual meeting in March.

    Unlike its Quad partner countries, India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it abstained from the votes at the UN platforms on the Russian aggression.

    India has been pressing for an immediate cessation of violence in Ukraine and seeking a resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue.

    Modi held phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, March 2 and March 7. He had also spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy twice.

    In a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on April 1, Modi conveyed that India stands ready to contribute in any way to the peace efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

  • Rajnath Singh, Jaishankar arrive in US to attend 2+2 ministerial

    By PTI

    WASHINGTON: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have arrived in the US capital to attend the India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue in Washington on Monday – the first under the Biden administration.

    To be held under the shadow of the Ukrainian crisis, the 2+2 ministerial is reflective of the significance the two governments attach to this bilateral relationship, which former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee described as natural allies.

    In fact, President Biden has signalled to elevate the 2+2 ministerial by himself having a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the White House on Monday.

    The two Indian ministers – Singh and Jaishankar – along with their American counterparts – Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken – are slated to participate in the virtual meeting from the White House.

    The day would begin with Singh being given a red-carpet welcome at the Pentagon by Austin and Blinken meeting Jaishankar at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department.

    Thereafter, the four ministers would drive to the White House for the Modi-Biden virtual meeting.

    During the virtual meet, Biden and Modi will discuss cooperation on a range of issues, including ending the COVID-19 pandemic, countering the climate crisis, strengthening the global economy, and upholding a free, open, rules-based international order to bolster security, democracy, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

    The 2+2 ministerial along with the respective delegations would take place at the State Department in the afternoon.

    A joint press conference has been scheduled at the conclusion of the 2+2. It would be addressed by Singh and Jaishankar along with Austin and Blinken.

  • Ukraine discussed, but Indo-Pacific remains core focus of Quad’s agenda: MEA

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Friday said Indo-Pacific remained the core focus of the Quad even if the situation in Ukraine was discussed at a meeting of the leaders of the coalition.

    Leaders of the Quad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and their Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, held a virtual meeting on Thursday that saw a discussion on the Ukraine crisis.

    A joint readout released by the White House said the Quad leaders discussed the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine besides assessing its “broader implications”.

    External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing that it is natural for leaders, having such good rapport among themselves, to discuss topical issues when they meet.

    “As you saw from the readouts, Ukraine was discussed naturally. But let me just emphasise the Indo-Pacific remains the core focus of the Quad’s agenda and you will see that coming in terms of positive activities, initiatives and efforts all four countries are making,” he said.

    Bagchi said the message at the meeting was very clear that although there is a crisis in Ukraine, all four countries were trying to take forward the agenda of the Quad that was firmed up at an in-person summit of the leaders of the coalition in Washington last September.

    “From our perspective, while of course there’s a very serious situation. In Ukraine, it’s not as though challenges in other parts of the world have vanished,” he said.

    “In the Indo-Pacific, the challenge is there and the agenda that the leaders of these four countries have signed up to, that is Indo-Pacific being at the core of the Quad’s agenda is something that they want to push ahead with,” he said.

    In his remarks at the virtual meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a return to a path of “dialogue and diplomacy” in defusing the crisis in Ukraine.

    “They (Quad leaders) agreed to stand up a new humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mechanism which will enable the Quad to meet future humanitarian challenges in the Indo-Pacific and provide a channel for communication as they each address and respond to the crisis in Ukraine,” the joint readout stated.

    It said the Quad leaders agreed to meet in person in Tokyo in the coming months.

    An Indian statement said, “Developments in Ukraine were discussed in the meeting, including its humanitarian implications. The prime minister emphasised the need to return to a path of dialogue and diplomacy.”

    Modi underlined that the Quad must remain focused on its “core objective” of promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and he also reiterated the importance of adhering to the United Nations Charter, international law, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, it said.

  • QUAD meeting puts to rest speculation on difference between India, US on Ukraine crisis

    By PTI

    WASHINGTON: Leaders of the Quad, including US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday agreed to stand up a new humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mechanism which will enable the strategic alliance to meet future humanitarian challenges in the Indo-Pacific and provide a channel for communication as they each address and respond to the escalating crisis in Ukraine.

    Putting to rest all speculation about India and the United States not being on the same page on the issue of the Ukrainian crisis, Prime Minister Modi and American President Biden were joined by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in issuing a joint statement on the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.

    “The Quad leaders discussed the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and assessed its broader implications,” said a joint readout of the Quad leader’s call issued by the White House here.

    The first virtual meeting of the Quad leaders, which was closed for the press, is significant because the new grouping of these four countries, which was primarily meant for the Indo-Pacific region, talked about and commented about a raging crisis in Europe.

    According to the readout, the four leaders agreed to stand up a new humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mechanism which will enable the Quad to meet future humanitarian challenges in the Indo-Pacific and provide a channel for communication as they each address and respond to the crisis in Ukraine.

    The virtual meeting, being held in the backdrop of the major conflict in Europe, also puts to rest all speculation that Quad might not remain united in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis after Russia launched an all out military aggression against its neighbour.

    India is the only country among this group of four big players in Quad which has abstained from the repeated United Nations votes on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

    The Biden Administration has shown its understanding of India’s position and one of its officials on Wednesday told lawmakers that India’s position on Russia has now evolved.

    According to the readout, the four leaders convened the meeting to reaffirm their “commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, in which the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states is respected and countries are free from military, economic, and political coercion.”

    In November 2017, the US, Australia, India and Japan gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence, amidst China’s growing military presence in the strategic region.

    China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it.

    Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.

    Beijing is also involved in a maritime dispute with Japan over the East China Sea.

    ALSO READ | At Quad meet, PM Modi calls for return to path of diplomacy on Ukraine crisis

    The four leaders reaffirmed their dedication to the Quad as a mechanism to promote regional stability and prosperity.

    “In their continuing pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Quad Leaders agreed to meet in person in Tokyo in the coming months,” said the readout.

    During the meeting, Modi underlined that the Quad must remain focused on its core objective of promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

    He called for concrete and practical forms of cooperation within the Quad, in areas like Humanitarian and Disaster Relief, debt sustainability, supply chains, clean energy, connectivity, and capacity-building.

    “Developments in Ukraine were discussed in the meeting, including its humanitarian implications. The Prime Minister emphasized the need to return to a path of dialogue and diplomacy,” said a readout of the meeting issued by the office of the prime minister.

    “The leaders also discussed other topical issues, including developments in ASEAN, the Indian Ocean region and the Pacific Islands. The Prime Minister reiterated the importance of adhering to the UN Charter, international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. The leaders agreed to stay in touch and to work towards an ambitious agenda for the forthcoming Leaders’ Summit in Japan,” it said.

    The very fact that both Biden and Modi shared the Quad platform to discuss the issue of Ukraine, at the end of which a joint readout was issued, is reflective of the fact that the two countries can sit and talk on issues like this.

    The joint statement in itself is a message.

    The meeting also puts to rest questions like what happens to the Indo-Pacific and Quad in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis.

    All the four leaders spoke at least three times during the meeting, which was closed for the press.

    The United States holding a meeting of Quad leaders at the head of state level in the middle of the Ukrainian crisis indicates their commitment to Quad.