Joe Biden leaves for India to attend G20 Summit, maintain talks with PM Modi

US President Joe Biden on Friday left for New Delhi to take part within the historic G20 Summit to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Joe Biden will comply with the Covid pointers of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) throughout his go to to India for the G20 Summit, the White House has stated.

First Lady Jill Biden, 72, examined constructive for Covid on Monday. President Biden, 80, was examined for the virus on Monday and Tuesday following his spouse’s constructive check, however his outcomes had been detrimental.

Taking to X, the official deal with of the US President stated, “I’m headed to the G20 – the premier forum for international economic cooperation – focused on making progress on Americans’ priorities, delivering for developing nations, and showing our commitment to the G20 as a forum that can deliver. Every time we engage, we get better.”

Less than an hour earlier than his departure for India, the White House stated, “The President tested negative for Covid.”

The First Lady was quarantined at her Delaware home after testing constructive and isn’t travelling with the president to India and Vietnam. On Thursday, her workplace stated, “The First Lady tested negative for Covid today.”

Travelling with the US president onboard Air Force One, contains US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O’Malley Dillon, and Director of Oval Office operations Annie Tomasini.

Also accompanying the president are Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, NSC Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific Kurt Campbell, NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communication John Kirby, Senior Advisor for Energy and Investment Amos Hochstein, Deputy Director of Communications Herbie Ziskend, Senior Director for South Asia, National Security Council Eileen Laubacher, amongst others.

According to the White House, Biden would arrive in New Delhi on Friday night, with a refuelling cease at Ramstein, Germany.

The US president is wanting ahead to a profitable G-20 Summit and advancing a number of of the causes, like local weather change, and reforms of worldwide boards just like the World Bank and the International Monetary Funds.

On his maiden journey to India because the president of the United States, Biden would welcome the African Union as a G20 member, an Indian transfer that has been supported and cheered by world leaders.

He is predicted to have a bilateral assembly with Prime Minister Modi on Friday.

During the assembly, the 2 leaders are prone to overview the progress made on the selections that they took throughout Prime Minister Modi’s official state go to to Washington in June.

Prominent points that might function in the course of the assembly could possibly be Ukraine, important and rising expertise and among the offers that had been introduced, like that of drones with General Atomics and jet engines with General Electric.

The subsequent day, Biden will take part in an official arrival and handshake with PM Modi. Thereafter, he would take part in a collection of G20 Leaders Summit conferences together with Session 1: “One Earth”; and Session 2: “One Family”.

He will even take part in a Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment occasion after which finish the day with a dinner and cultural programme with G20 leaders.

Before leaving for Hanoi in Vietnam, the President will go to the Raj Ghat Memorial with G20 leaders, the White House stated.

Biden’s focus

On Wednesday, White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communication John Kirby advised reporters that Biden’s focus might be on delivering financial alternative for growing international locations, making progress on key priorities for the American folks akin to local weather and expertise, and exhibiting the US’ dedication to the G20 itself as a viable, if not very important, discussion board to sort out these points.

“Of course, we’re grateful for Prime Minister Modi’s leadership during India’s presidency of the G20, and the President is certainly looking forward to his bilateral meeting with the prime minister shortly after his arrival in New Delhi.”

“He is also looking forward to warmly welcoming the African Union as a permanent member of the G20. We believe that the African Union’s voice will make the G20 even stronger than it already is,” Kirby added.

The G20 member international locations characterize round 85 per cent of the worldwide GDP, over 75 per cent of the worldwide commerce, and about two-thirds of the world inhabitants.

He hoped that the G20 international locations would be capable to difficulty a joint assertion. “We know that the Indians also would like to see a joint communique if you will, so we’ll see where it goes.”

“Oftentimes the sticking point tends to be the war in Ukraine because countries like Russia and China are less likely to sign on to language that the rest of the international community is more uncomfortable signing on to, so we’ll see where it goes,” Kirby stated.

Apart from President Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are among the many G20 leaders who’ve already confirmed their participation within the summit.

Prime Minister Modi will hand over the baton of the G20 Presidency to Brazilian President Lula on September 10. Brazil will formally assume the G20 Presidency on December 1.

The G20 grouping contains Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union.

Published On:

Sep 8, 2023