Modi And Biden Meet: Key Geopolitical Talks On China And Russia During US Visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a three-day visit to the United States, where he met with President Joe Biden on Saturday morning (local time).

The two leaders are expected to engage in discussions focused on key geopolitical challenges, particularly concerning China and Russia, during their bilateral meeting at Biden's personal residence.

Photo Credit: X/ANI

Modi And Biden Meet: Key Geopolitical Talks

The U.S. delegation includes key figures such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti. On the Indian side, Modi's team comprises External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Ambassador to the U.S. Vinay Mohan Kwatra, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

Notably, this meeting may mark the last bilateral discussion between Modi and Biden, as the latter is nearing the end of his presidency, with the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election set for November 5, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the Democratic nominee following Biden's exit from the race in July, where she will face former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate.

Before the meeting, Sullivan highlighted that the agenda would center on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and India's stance regarding Russia and China. He emphasized that Russia's actions in Ukraine violate international law and stressed the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Sullivan urged countries like India to refrain from supporting Russia's war efforts, stating, "Countries like India should step up and support the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The discussion will also touch on China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Sullivan remarked that the leaders would examine China's actions, not just in security matters, but also in economic and technological domains. He clarified that while the QUAD aims to foster a free and open Indo-Pacific, it is not solely focused on countering China. "The QUAD is about a larger vision we're trying to work towards," he explained.

Following their bilateral meeting, both leaders are scheduled to attend a summit-level meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. This summit will review the progress of the QUAD over the past year and set the agenda for future initiatives to support the development goals of countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

The QUAD leaders have previously convened both virtually and in-person, with their most recent summit held in Hiroshima, Japan, in May 2023. As global dynamics continue to shift, the outcomes of these discussions will be closely monitored for their implications on international relations and regional stability.