PM Modi, US President Biden meet ahead of Quad summit, discuss global issues | External Affairs Defence & Security News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Quad summit on Saturday and the two leaders are expected to discuss a range of issues, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

During the meeting at Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware, the two leaders will review and identify new avenues to further deepen the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership.

According to US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the war and Modi’s recent visit to Ukraine are likely to feature prominently on the agenda of the bilateral meeting. Modi, who is on a three-day visit to the US, will also hold separate bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, both present for the Quad summit.

“My meeting with President Biden will enable us to explore and identify new avenues to further deepen the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership for the benefit of our people and the global good,” Modi had said in his farewell statement in New Delhi.

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

The annual Quad summit, hosted by President Biden in his hometown of Wilmington, is expected to launch a series of new initiatives to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and explore ways to find peaceful solutions to the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

The Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, which brings together four countries, advocates for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. Beijing considers it an anti-China group.

From Wilmington, Modi will travel to New York where he will attend an Indian community event on Long Island on September 22 and address the Future Summit at the United Nations General Assembly the following day.

“I look forward to engaging with the Indian diaspora and key American business leaders, who are key stakeholders and bring dynamism to the unique partnership between the world’s largest and oldest democracies,” Modi said.