US President Joe Biden spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to strengthen their nations' partnership at a moment when both countries face strained relations with China. India is in the midst of a 9-month long military standoff with China along their disputed border in eastern Ladakh. Tens of thousands of soldiers are facing each other at friction points in the region in sub-zero temperatures. At the same time, Biden is determined to depart from former President Donald Trump's hot-and-cold relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump alternately courted and cajoled Beijing, pressing for a major trade agreement while downplaying China's efforts to squelch pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. Trump also initially assured Americans that China had the coronavirus “very well under control” before later blaming the Chinese government — often using xenophobic language — for being responsible for the worst public health crisis in the US in more than a century.
The White House said in a statement that Biden and Modi “agreed to continuing close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific" and added that the leaders “resolved that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld" in Myanmar, days after a military coup in the southeast Asian nation.
As a senator, Biden was an important advocate of the 2008 civil nuclear deal between the countries. The 2008 nuclear accord paved the way for the supply of US high-tech equipment that India wanted along with the technology. The accord ended India’s isolation after it conducted nuclear tests in 1998 and refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The United States is also supporting India’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a move that has been blocked by China. Modi wrote on Twitter that he wished Biden success as he launches his administration.
Trudeau assured help
Meanwhile, PM Modi during his talks with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau assured that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of Covid-19 vaccines sought by Canada. Trudeau, who made a telephone call to the prime minister, said that if the world managed to conquer Covid-19, it would be significantly because of India's tremendous pharmaceutical capacity and Modi's leadership in sharing this capacity with the world, according to a Prime Minister's Office (PMO) statement. During the call, Trudeau informed Modi about Canada's requirements of Covid-19 vaccines from India. Prime Minister Modi assured that India would do its best to support Canada's vaccination efforts, just as it had done for many other countries already. “Was happy to receive a call from my friend Justin Trudeau. Assured him that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of Covid vaccines sought by Canada," Modi said in a tweet. We also agreed to continue collaborating on other important issues like Climate Change and the global economic recovery," he said.
The two leaders also reiterated the common perspective shared by India and Canada on many important geo-political issues. They agreed to continue the close collaboration between both countries in fighting global challenges like Climate Change and the economic impacts of the pandemic, the PMO said. The leaders looked forward to meeting each other in various important international discussions later this year, and continuing their talks on all issues of mutual interest, it said.
