Biden and Modi talk about Ukraine and announce agreements in defense, space and technology

The president of USA, Joe Bidenand the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modithey talked this Thursday in the White House on war in Ukraine and made new collaboration announcements in defense, space and technology.

In a joint press conference, the two leaders revealed that the war in Ukraine was part of the agenda.

“Today we talk about our joint efforts to mitigate the human tragedy that has unleashed Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine,” Biden explained.

For his part, Modi reiterated the position of neutrality that India has maintained in the conflict and avoided criticizing Russia, although he highlighted the damage that the war has done to the so-called “Global South”.

“We believe that in order to solve these problems it is absolutely imperative that all countries come together. Since these events began in Ukraine, India has placed emphasis on resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.”said Modi, who said his country “ready” to help restore peace.

Ukraine has invited India to join an eventual peace conference and Modi first met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in May on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan.

The war in Ukraine is one of the issues that generates the most tension between the US and India, since, among other things, the Modi government has taken advantage of the conflict to buy Russian crude at cheaper prices at a time when the West has reduced its imports.

Despite the differences, Biden made it clear that one of his highest priorities in foreign policy is to strengthen the relationship with India, the most populous country in the world and the fifth largest economy, also being the fastest growing within the G20.

Especially key is the relationship between the two nations when it comes to China, which Biden sees as his country’s biggest foreign policy challenge and with which India has had its own tensions, including 2020 border clashes that deteriorated. seriously the relationship between the two neighboring countries.

During the press conference, Biden thanked India for the role it has played in the Quad security alliance, which was created in 2007 to act as a counterweight to China and which also includes Australia and Japan.

Finally, the two leaders made several announcements, including a defense agreement, an issue that is especially crucial for Washington since Russia has traditionally been India’s largest supplier of military hardware.

Specifically, the two leaders announced an agreement that will allow the US company General Electric and the Indian state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce engines for combat aircraft in the Asian country.

Also, Biden and Modi revealed that the India will buy for US$ 3,000 million 31 sophisticated drones “MQ” American made.

On the other hand, Biden also announced plans to bolster India’s semiconductor industry, in a bid to reduce reliance on China.

Among other things, the American company Micron Technology will invest 800 million dollars in building a production plant for semiconductors in Indian Territory.

In the area of ​​space exploration, India will announce that it will join the Artemis Accords, which seek collaboration between nations with the aim of returning to the Moon and preparing a future trip to Mars, and NASA will collaborate with the space agency India to send a mission to the International Space Station in 2024.

Finally, the State Department announced plans to open US consulates in the Indian cities of Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, while India will reopen its consulate in the US state of Seattle.

Source: EFE