The G20 Summit begins today, and barely three months after the Indo-US joint statement hailed ties spanning “seas to stars,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting US President Joe Biden made progress in a sweeping range of areas they had flagged last June: from space research and cancer to critical tech and small modular nuclear reactors.

Their 29-paragraph joint statement focused exclusively on the bilateral agenda. Unlike the 58-paragraph statement last June during PM Modi’s State visit to the US, it made no mention of regional and global issues, counter-terrorism or situation in the neighbourhood including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Myanmar.

After the meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office said: “The two leaders also exchanged views on a number of regional and global issues. They agreed that the India-US partnership was beneficial not only for the people of the two countries but also for global good.” Modi tweeted, “Our meeting was very productive. We were able to discuss numerous topics which will further economic and people-to-people linkages between India and USA. The friendship between our nations will continue to play a great role in furthering global good.”

While there was no mention of the Russia-Ukraine conflict like in June, there was a reference to a “free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific” — an oblique reference to China’s aggressive behaviour.

Considering the Biden visit is ostensibly for the G20 summit, it figures prominently in the third paragraph and signals that New Delhi and Washington will work towards a joint communique.

Echoing the June statement, the joint statement said that both 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.”

However, on many of the agreements arrived at in June, Friday’s bilateral added details and specifics of implementation.

On the GE jet engines deal, the leaders welcomed the forward movement — completion of the Congressional Notification process on August 29 and the commencement of negotiations for a commercial agreement between GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to manufacture GE F-414 jet engines in India.

Source: IndianExpress