United States President Joe Biden is set to travel to New Delhi from September 7 to September 10 to participate in the G20 summit and engage in bilateral meetings with a diverse range of leaders. The announcement was made by American National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Tuesday.
During this visit, President Biden will assertively advocate for the reform of multilateral development banks (MDBs) through a proposal aimed at bolstering these institutions’ financial capabilities. The aim is to effectively address challenges related to poverty alleviation, fostering prosperity, and tackling the climate crisis. Sullivan further highlighted that Biden’s presence will convey a strong message of solidarity with the global south, reaffirming the US’s support for these nations.
As part of his remarks during a press briefing, Sullivan underscored that the US does not perceive the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) group as a “geopolitical rival.” Instead, he emphasized the diversity within the BRICS nations and affirmed Washington’s “positive” relationships with Brazil, India, and South Africa. Sullivan mentioned that the US engages with China while simultaneously managing its relationship and taking a firm stance against Russia.
Sullivan acknowledged that the BRICS countries have differences among themselves on various critical matters. He conveyed that the US will continue working to enhance the value of the BRICS grouping for the global south through a positive agenda, aligning with their interests.
The White House later released a statement confirming President Biden’s visit to India. The statement outlined that discussions with G20 partners would encompass joint efforts to address global challenges such as clean energy transition, climate change mitigation, and countering the economic and social impacts of conflicts like the situation involving Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine. Furthermore, the statement stressed the intention to enhance the capacity of multilateral development banks, including the World Bank, to effectively combat poverty and address global challenges.
The statement also highlighted President Biden’s acknowledgment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership of the G20 and the US’s commitment to the G20 as a primary platform for economic cooperation. The US is set to host the G20 summit in 2026.
While bilateral talks between Biden and Modi are expected, the specifics are yet to be finalized. These discussions are expected to focus on the implementation of agreements made during Modi’s state visit to the US in June. Due to India’s various diplomatic commitments during the summit and time constraints, the scope of the bilateral engagement is expected to be limited.
There is speculation about the potential for a meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the G20 summit. The US has been intensifying its engagement with China through various interactions at different levels. The possibility of a Biden-Xi meeting in Delhi or during the upcoming APEC summit in November remains open.
Sullivan emphasized the Biden administration’s unprecedented engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, highlighting a series of significant interactions and summits involving countries in the region. The US aims to responsibly manage its competition with China while fostering cooperative relationships in the Indo-Pacific.
As part of Biden’s second visit to India, which could potentially occur in early 2024 for the next Quad leaders’ summit, he would be the first American president to visit India twice during his first term in office.
The visit underscores the growing importance of India in global affairs and reflects the US’s commitment to strengthening its relationships with key partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
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