Modi Informs Biden on Ukraine Visit, Talks Bangladesh Situation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a phone conversation with US President Joe Biden on Monday, during which he briefed Biden on his recent visit to Ukraine. Modi conveyed India's full support for the early return of peace in the region through dialogue and diplomacy. The call was initiated by Biden three days after Modi's high-profile visit to Kyiv.

In a post on X, Modi shared that he and Biden discussed various regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine. "Spoke to @POTUS @JoeBiden on phone today. We had a detailed exchange of views on various regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine. I reiterated India's full support for early return of peace and stability," Modi said.

Focus on Bangladesh

The leaders also discussed the ongoing situation in Bangladesh, stressing the need for the early restoration of normalcy and ensuring the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus. "We also discussed the situation in Bangladesh and stressed on the need for early restoration of normalcy, and ensuring the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh," Modi added.

India has been consistently pressing for the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh amid unfolding political developments there. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) stated that Modi briefed Biden on his recent visit to Ukraine while discussing the situation in Ukraine.

Commitment to Multilateral Cooperation

Modi and Biden reiterated their commitment to further strengthen cooperation in multilateral fora, including the Quad. Interestingly, Modi also had a phone conversation with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday, which included discussions on cooperation under Quad among other issues.

The PMO mentioned that Modi's visit to Kyiv on August 23 was seen as a diplomatic balancing act. His trip to Russia last month had triggered criticism from the Biden administration and some Western capitals. The PMO said both leaders expressed their shared concern over the situation in Bangladesh and emphasised restoring law and order while ensuring minority safety.

Strengthening India-US Relations

During their conversation, Modi conveyed his appreciation for Biden's deep commitment to the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. This partnership is based on shared values of democracy, rule of law, and strong people-to-people ties. The leaders reviewed significant progress in bilateral relations, highlighting that this partnership aims to benefit both countries' people as well as humanity.

The PMO noted that Modi received the call from Biden and that both leaders agreed to stay in touch. Speculation suggests that this year's Quad summit may take place on the sidelines of the UN's Summit of the Future in New York next month.

Modi's phone talks with Biden and Albanese come amid these speculations. The discussions reflect ongoing efforts to address regional issues while strengthening international partnerships through dialogue and cooperation.