PM Narendra Modi to hold virtual meeting with Joe Biden before 2+2 meet

US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will discuss cooperation on a range of issues, including ending the COVID-19 pandemic, combating the climate crisis, bolstering the global economy and creating a free, open, rules-of-the-seat approach to bolstering security. -based international order. , democracy, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

The two leaders will take forward the ongoing dialogue on how to develop the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and deliver high-quality infrastructure.

“President Biden will continue our close consultation on the consequences of Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine and mitigating its destabilizing impact on global food supply and commodity markets,” according to a White House statement.

Joe Biden last spoke to Prime Minister Modi in March along with other Quad leaders.

it will be before the meeting US-India 2+2 Ministerial meeting between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Minister of External Affairs Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Defense Minister of India Rajnath Singh.

The two leaders will review and exchange views on ongoing bilateral cooperation in South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region and global issues of mutual interest, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a separate statement.

“The virtual meeting will enable both sides to continue their regular and high-level partnership with the aim of further strengthening the bilateral Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The virtual meeting comes amid some unease in Washington over India’s position on the Ukraine crisis as well as its decision to purchase concessional Russian oil.

Late last month, US Deputy National Security Adviser for International Economics Dalip Singh also said during a visit to New Delhi that Washington would not like to see a “sharp” acceleration in India’s imports of energy and other goods from Russia.