Raised role of civil society, free press & human rights with Modi: Biden in Hanoi

Biden, who arrived in New Delhi on Friday, on his first visit to India as US President, held wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Modi during his visit. The two leaders committed to “deepen and diversify” the bilateral defence partnership, also welcoming forward movement in India’s procurement of 31 drones and joint development of jet engines.

“I want to once again thank Prime Minister Modi for his leadership and his hospitality and hosting the G20. He and I have had substantial discussions about how we’re going to continue to strengthen the partnership between India and the US building on the Prime Minister’s visit to the White House last June,” Biden said on Sunday.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden at the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment & India-Middle East-Europe Economics Corridor event during the G20 Summit 2023, in New Delhi, on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (PTI Photo)

Despite multiple requests from the White House, journalists from the US did not get press access to ask questions to President Biden and Prime Minister Modi after their bilateral meeting in New Delhi on Friday. “This meeting will be taking place at the Prime Minister’s residence, so, it is unusual in that respect — this is not your typical bilateral visit to India, with meetings taking place in the Prime Minister’s office and an entire programme,” CNN quoted National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan as saying earlier Thursday.

The joint statement issued on Friday after the bilateral talks between Modi and Biden said, “The leaders re-emphasised 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.”

Biden also talked about the “significant business” he had done in India during the G20 Summit. “This was an important moment for the US to demonstrate our global leadership and commitment to solving the challenges that matter most to people around the world,” he said.

On the corridor connecting India to Europe with the Middle East and Israel, he said that they are going to open up untold opportunities for transformative economic investment. He also said that the “illegal war in Ukraine” was also discussed at the G20 Summit in New Delhi and that there was sufficient agreement on the need for just and lasting peace.