In a recent development, US President Joe Biden has postponed his visit to Bharat, originally scheduled for late January, citing “scheduling demands.” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar revealed that the visit was closely tied to the proposed Quad Summit, and unfortunately, the dates did not align with all the Quad partners.
Jaishankar explained in an interview with Bharatiya media agency that they couldn’t find a “landing zone” for the visit and faced challenges in reaching a consensus among all the involved parties. The Quad Summit, initially set to be hosted by Bharat in January, is now being considered for rescheduling later in 2024, as the current dates do not work for all Quad partners.
Sources also mentioned that President Biden had been invited to India for Republic Day celebrations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 Summit in September. However, due to the intricate ties with the Quad Summit, the visit faced difficulties in materializing.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Modi to be the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations on January 26. Macron expressed gratitude for the invitation, strengthening diplomatic ties between India and France.
The Bharat-US relationship, marked by a comprehensive global strategic partnership, has seen recent achievements. During the fifth Bharat-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in November, the nations resolved their seventh and last outstanding World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute. This follows a series of accomplishments initiated during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US in June 2023.
Biden’s visit to Delhi during the G20 Summit further solidified the partnership, with both leaders appreciating the progress made in implementing the outcomes of PM Modi’s historic visit. The joint statement highlighted advancements in critical and emerging technology under the India-US Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).
PM Modi’s visit to the United States in June 2023 focused on strengthening the Indo-US strategic partnership, emphasizing areas such as trade, defense collaboration, and technology transfer. Key initiatives were announced, including joint efforts in renewable energy and climate change mitigation.
As the Quad Summit undergoes rescheduling, the diplomatic relations between India and the US continue to evolve, promising a future marked by collaboration and shared interests.
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