PM Modi to Host Dinner Tonight For President Biden, Wide Array of Topics to Be Discussed

US President Joe Biden is on his way to India to participate in the historic G20 Summit in New Delhi to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Biden will follow the COVID-19 guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during his visit to India for the G20 Summit, the White House has said.

The US President is expected to land in India around 7 pm and he will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a dinner hosted at his residence in Lok Kalyan Marg around 7.30 pm.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in June, US First Lady Jill Biden hosted a dinner for him at the White House, and this is seen as a reciprocal gesture.

The two leaders will discuss bilateral issues including nuclear energy, defence, visas, consulates. However, prominent issues that could feature during the meeting could be the Russia-Ukraine war and and the polarisation over it within, Indian Express reported citing sources.

The outcome of the Summit largely hinges on the degree of flexibility the United States demonstrates in reaching a consensus on a joint communique with all member nations. Tensions have been high between the US-led G7 alliance and the Russia-China bloc concerning the Ukraine conflict, the report adds.

According to the White House, Biden would arrive in New Delhi on Friday evening, with a refuelling stop at Ramstein, Germany. The US president is looking forward to a successful G-20 Summit and advancing several of the causes dear to his heart like climate change, and reforms of international forums like the World Bank and the International Monetary Funds. On his maiden trip to India as the president of the United States, Biden would welcome the African Union as a G20 member, an Indian move that has been supported and cheered by world leaders, PTI reported.

Also, the leaders are expected to discuss some of the deals that were announced during PM Modi's visit to the US like that of the drones with General Atomics and jet engines with General Electric.

The next day President Biden will participate in an official arrival and handshake with PM Modi. Thereafter, he would participate in a series of G20 Leaders Summit meetings including Session 1: "One Earth"; and Session 2: "One Family". He will also participate in a Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment event and then end the day with a dinner and cultural programme with G20 leaders. Before leaving for Hanoi in Vietnam, the President will visit the Raj Ghat Memorial with G20 leaders, the White House said.

Travelling alongside the US president aboard Air Force One are key personnel, including US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O'Malley Dillon, and Director of Oval Office Operations Annie Tomasini. Additionally, the president is accompanied by Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Director of Speechwriting Vinay Reddy, Director of Communications Ben LaBolt, Director of Scheduling and Advance Ryan Montoya, Acting Chief of Protocol Ethan Rosenzweig, NSC Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific Kurt Campbell, NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communication John Kirby, Senior Advisor for Energy and Investment Amos Hochstein, Deputy Director of Communications Herbie Ziskend, Senior Director for South Asia at the National Security Council Eileen Laubacher, and others.