PM Modi Greets US President Biden With Tight Hug At G7 Summit In Japan

At the G7 Summit in a Japanese city on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden warmly embraced each other during their greetings. This brief interaction occurred in anticipation of Modi's upcoming inaugural state visit to the United States next month.

Modi's visit to the US is scheduled for next month upon receiving an invitation from President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. In a show of hospitality, the US president and the First Lady will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22.

This visit by Modi precedes India's hosting of the G20 Summit in September, adding significance to his diplomatic engagements.

Since assuming office as Prime Minister in 2014, Modi has made numerous trips to the United States for bilateral and multilateral meetings with all three American presidents-Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and now Joe Biden. However, this is the first time he has been invited for an official state visit, an honor typically extended to America's close friends and allies.

Modi's most recent visit to Washington was in September 2021, at the invitation of President Biden for a bilateral meeting. He also participated in the inaugural in-person Quad Leaders' Summit hosted by Biden.

Prior to this, Prime Minister Modi and President Biden had met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia in November of the previous year. They also had encounters during the G7 Summit in Germany in June 2022 and the Quad Leaders Summit in Tokyo in May of the same year.