US President Biden and Indian PM Modi Forge Strong Alliance, Amid Controversy and US-China Rivalry at G20 Summit
Under the backdrop of the G20 summit, President Biden and PM Modi discuss strengthening Indo-US ties, countering China's influence, and economic agreements, while facing criticism for ignoring human rights concerns.
US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in New Delhi ahead of the Group of 20 (G20) summit, where they pledged to deepen the partnership between their two countries. The leaders discussed the importance of a free and inclusive Indo-Pacific and reaffirmed their support for the Quad alliance, which includes Australia and Japan, in countering China's growing influence in the region.
The talks also focused on strengthening economic ties, with agreements made for General Electric to produce jet engines in India and for India to purchase US drones. However, the Biden administration has faced criticism for ignoring human rights abuses by the Modi government.
The G20 summit is seen as an opportunity for the US and its allies to present themselves as a better economic and security partner compared to China. The absence of Russian and Chinese presidents, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, at the summit gives the US an opportunity to showcase its value proposition to the Global South. India, as the host of the summit, aims to elevate the place of the Global South and promote inclusive and sustainable growth in the multilateral forum.