PM Modi Bids Farewell to US President Joe Biden at G20 Summit, Reflecting on Four Years of Strengthened Bilateral Ties
Rio de Janeiro: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden had a final meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, marking the end of Biden’s term and reflecting on the significant progress made in US-India relations over the past four years. The meeting, which took place as Biden nears the end of his presidency in January, underscored the deepening cooperation between the two democracies.
“Always a delight to meet him,” PM Modi posted on X, alongside a picture of the two leaders together. At the G20 summit, the Indian Prime Minister was flanked by Biden and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, highlighting the strong diplomatic ties that have characterized the two leaders’ partnership.
Over the course of Biden’s presidency, PM Modi developed a strong rapport with him, leading to numerous personal meetings and collaboration on various fronts. Their relationship saw significant milestones, including meetings in both the US and India, and cooperation in multiple areas ranging from defense to technology, climate change, and counter-terrorism.
In September, PM Modi visited Biden at his weekend residence in Delaware, where they also held a Quad summit with the leaders of Australia and Japan. The two leaders also held a bilateral meeting when Biden visited India for the G20 Summit last year, which further strengthened their partnership. During Biden’s state visit to Washington in 2023, the leaders showcased a deepened alliance, with Biden noting, “Each time, I was struck by our ability to find new areas of cooperation. Together, we’re unlocking a shared future of what I believe to be unlimited potential.”
One of the key outcomes of their relationship was the signing of several landmark agreements, including cooperation in defense, space, high-tech industries, and climate change. Notably, the US agreed to license India the manufacture of GE F414 engines for military jets, and the two nations agreed to promote startups in defense industries and deepen counter-terrorism cooperation.
In addition to these agreements, PM Modi and Biden played a key role in upgrading the Quad—a strategic group comprising India, Japan, Australia, and the US—to the summit level, further strengthening Indo-Pacific cooperation. They also established the I2U2 group, a new strategic alliance between India, Israel, the UAE, and the US, reflecting their shared interests in regional security and economic growth.
While there were differences between the two countries, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, these issues did not overshadow the broader, multifaceted relationship between India and the US. A key driver of their growing partnership has been the shared concern over the rise of China as a global power, which has led both nations to align more closely in their efforts to maintain a rules-based international order, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
The bilateral relationship between the US and India has grown organically, with bipartisan support in both countries, and is expected to continue thriving in the years ahead. As PM Modi bids farewell to President Biden, the enduring strength of the India-US alliance remains a cornerstone of global diplomacy and international stability.
