IRIA News

U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a private dinner and a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on September 8, 2023. The meeting came ahead of the G20 summit which is being hosted by India.

The U.S. President arrived in New Delhi to attend the G20 Summit 2023. As his first order of business after arriving in India, Biden met with his host, Prime Minister Modi, in a private dinner. The two leaders reaffirmed their support for “a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific” as members of the Quad alliance, which also includes Australia and Japan.

Modi said that he was looking forward to welcoming President Biden to the next Quad leaders’ summit, which is set to be held in India in 2024. The two leaders also announced a series of bilateral agreements related to technology and trade and hailed agreements on high-tech trade, including on semiconductors, telecom, and computing.

The meeting between the two leaders comes only a few days after the BRICS Summit, a bloc that seeks cooperation between developing countries on matters related to trade and technology. Several observers believe that the White House is keen to increase economic cooperation with rapidly developing economies, such as India, to counter China’s global economic influence. 

Great seeing you, Mr. Prime Minister.

Today, and throughout the G20, we'll affirm that the United States-India partnership is stronger, closer, and more dynamic than any time in history. pic.twitter.com/bEW2tPrNXr

— President Biden (@POTUS) September 8, 2023

Although the Biden administration has been a critique of the Modi government’s conservative Hindu-nationalist politics, history of human rights violations, and neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine war, China’s increasing military and economic maneuvering has brought Washington and New Delhi closer in recent times.

There have been more than a dozen in-person or virtual engagements between the leaders since 2021. This is the third time since June that the two leaders are holding an in-person bilateral meeting.

A joint statement released by the White House said “The leaders re-emphasized that the shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, inclusion, pluralism, and equal opportunities for all citizens are critical to the success our countries enjoy and that these values strengthen our relationship.”

World leaders arrive in India

The 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit will be held on September 9-10 in India’s national capital, New Delhi. The Indian administration has gone to great lengths to ensure the security of the event.

The G20 bloc comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the U.S., and the European Union. Apart from the leader and representatives of the G20 member states, several other participants are arriving in India to attend the event.

The meeting between the leaders and representatives of the world’s 20 major economies is expected to be overshadowed by diverse issues related to global inflation, climate change, and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Nigerian Prime Minister Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the first head of state to arrive in India on September 8. He was followed by several European leaders, including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

President Biden’s attendance at the event became uncertain when his wife, Jill Biden, tested positive for COVID-19, however, the 80-year-old U.S. President tested negative as continued his trip to India. Biden was seen following Covid-19 safety measures as he arrived in New Delhi.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping will not be participating in the event in person. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will represent Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit.