Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Quad summit today. Mr Biden welcomed PM Modi at his residence, where the two leaders hugged each other. Mr Biden held PM Modi’s hand and led him inside the house.
“The United States’ partnership with India is stronger, closer, and more dynamic than at any time in history. Prime Minister Modi, every time we sit down, I am impressed by our ability to find new areas of cooperation. Today was no different,” President Biden said in a post on X.
The United States’ partnership with India is stronger, closer, and more dynamic than at any time in history.
Prime Minister Modi, whenever we sit together, I am impressed by our ability to find new areas of cooperation. Today was no different. pic.twitter.com/TdcIpF23mV
— President Biden (@POTUS) September 21, 2024
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US also includes External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra. The US delegation includes Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs TH Jake Sullivan and US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti.
PM Modi, who is on a three-day visit, will also hold separate bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who are in the US for the Quad summit.
President Biden is expected to launch a number of new initiatives at the annual Quad summit being hosted in his hometown of Wilmington to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and explore ways to find a peaceful solution to the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
The four-member Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue advocates maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. Beijing sees it as an anti-China grouping.
In his departure statement in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi said he looks forward to joining his colleagues President Biden, Prime Minister Albanese, and Prime Minister Kishida for the Quad Summit.
He said, “This forum has emerged as a leading grouping of like-minded countries working for peace, progress and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.”