U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday agreed with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to advance defense cooperation and efforts to maintain a free Indo-Pacific.
The meeting took place at Modi's residence ahead of the summit of the Group of 20 major economies in New Delhi this weekend as the United States and India continue to deepen ties in a number of areas amid China's rise, also including emerging technologies, supply chains for key industrial items, and sustainable development.
Biden and Modi reaffirmed the "close and enduring partnership" between the two countries and agreed to build on the momentum from the Indian prime minister's state visit to Washington in June, according to their joint statement.
During the visit, in a reflection of the deepening bilateral ties, they struck a deal to allow General Electric Co. to co-produce fighter jet engines in India, which has been eager to gain access to sensitive and sophisticated U.S. technology for the development of its domestic defense manufacturing capabilities.
At the time, they also agreed that India, the world's largest arms importer, will buy MQ-9 reconnaissance drones from the United States.
Officials of the two countries believe the purchase will be helpful for India to upgrade surveillance along its extended, and in places contested, border with China, as well as in maritime areas.
Following the latest meeting, Kurt Campbell, deputy assistant to Biden and the White House coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs, told reporters that the two countries have focused their talks on the region, the South China Sea and nearby sea lanes.
As Biden is poised to demonstrate stronger U.S. leadership at the G-20 summit in the absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the senior official said, "I think for our Indian partners, there is substantial disappointment that they're not here and gratitude that we are."
Among other points, Biden and Modi confirmed that the partnership among Australia, India, Japan and the United States, known as the Quad, is important in "supporting a free, open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific," according to the statement.
Modi "looked forward to welcoming" Biden to the next Quad summit to be hosted by India next year, it said.
