PM Modi in U.S. highlights: Warm welcome for PM Modi in New York after QUAD summit

US President Joe Biden welcomed the progress towards India concluding the procurement of 31 long-endurance MQ-9B armed drones from American defence major General Atomics as he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to boost two-way reciprocal supply of defence hardware amid common concerns over China’s growing military might.

India is procuring the ‘hunter-killer’ drones (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) from US Defence major General Atomics at a cost of over USD 3 billion primarily to crank up its surveillance apparatus along the frontier with China as well as in the Indian Ocean region.- PTI

US President Joe Biden commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Ukraine last month and his message of peace as the two leaders held wide-ranging talks that figured pressing global challenges, including the situation in the war-ravaged country.

The US President hosted Modi at his personal home in Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday afternoon, hours after the prime minister arrived in the US on a three-day visit.

In the talks, Mr. Biden conveyed to the Indian Prime Minister that the US supports initiatives to reform global institutions to reflect India’s important voice, including permanent membership for New Delhi in a reformed UN Security Council, according to a joint fact-sheet on the meeting.- PTI

“The overall message is of minimising conflict and division, leveraging democratic values, even as we pursue development objectives, and highlighting the role of technology, and the digital revolution in ushering in good governance to turn the destructive features of technology to good ends. These themes found reflections during the bilateral meetings. The important feature was return of nearly 300 antiquities back to India, here we were not just talking about not just ‘vikas’ but also ‘virasat’,” says Foreign Secretary of India Vikram Misri informing about Day 1 of PM Modi’s US visit.- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (September 22, 2024) expressed deep appreciation for US President Joe Biden for ensuring the return of 297 invaluable antiquities to India.

Prime Minister Modi is in the U.S. for a three-day visit to “further strengthen India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.” He attended the Quad Leaders’ Summit on Saturday (September 22, 2024) hosted by President Biden in his hometown Wilmington, Delaware.

Pashmina Shawl in Papier Mache Box is the gift for First Lady of USA Jill Biden. Pashmina shawls traditionally come packed in papier mâché boxes from J&K, that are renowned for their exquisite beauty and craftsmanship. These boxes are handmade using a mixture of paper pulp, glue, and other natural materials. Each box is a unique work of art, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Kashmir. These boxes are not only functional but also serve as decorative items in their own right.

PM gifted a silver hand-engraved train model to President Biden. This silver hand-engraved train model is a rare and extraordinary piece, masterfully crafted by artisans from Maharashtra - renowned for its rich heritage in silver craftsmanship. 

Signifying the robust linkages between India and the US, the model has been customised by inscribing “DELHI - DELAWARE” on the sides of the main carriage and “INDIAN RAILWAYS” on the sides of the engine in English and Hindi based on the standard format used on passenger trains in India. 

The illicit trafficking of cultural property is a longstanding issue that has affected many cultures and countries throughout history. India has been particularly affected by this issue and a large number of antiquities have been smuggled out of the country.

During this visit of PM Modi to U.S., 297 antiquities were handed over to India.

This takes the total number of antiquities recovered by India since 2014 to 640. The total number of antiquities returned from the USA alone will be 578.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emplaned for New York from Philadelphia airport on Saturday night (local time) after attending the Quad Summit.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Summit of the Future (SOTF) at the United Nations on Sunday.

The Prime Minister will chair some key bilateral meetings in New York during the visit.

President Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the Quad Leaders’ Summit on Saturday (local time) in Wilmington, Delaware.

-ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an “extremely fruitful” meeting with US President Joe Biden during which the two leaders discussed ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest and exchanged views on global and regional issues including the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

“The United States’ partnership with India is stronger, closer, and more dynamic than any time in history. Prime Minister Modi, each time we sit down, I’m struck by our ability to find new areas of cooperation. Today was no different,” Biden said in a post on X after the meeting that lasted more than an hour.

-PTI

The U.S. and India plan to elevate bilateral technical, financial, and policy support to expand complementary manufacturing capacity for building on existing clean energy cooperation between the two nations, according to the White House.

The announcement on Saturday (September 21, 2024) came after the meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Joe Biden at Greenville, Delaware.

Prime Minister Modi is in the U.S. on a three-day visit.

The Quad nations during the Leaders’ Summit on Saturday (local time) affirmed support for the reform of the United Nations Security Council through expansion in permanent and non-permanent categories of membership.

“Together, with our global and regional partners, we continue to support international institutions and initiatives that underpin global peace, prosperity and sustainable development. We reiterate our unwavering support for the UN Charter and the three pillars of the UN system,” the joint declaration read.

“We will reform the UN Security Council, recognizing the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable through expansion in permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of the UN Security Council. This expansion of permanent seats should include representation for Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean in a reformed Security Council,” the declaration added.

-ANI

The four-member Quad is a force for good and is more strategically aligned than ever before, a joint declaration issued after the meeting of the grouping’s leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has said.

“Four years since elevating the Quad to a leader-level format, the Quad is more strategically aligned than ever before and is a force for good that delivers real, positive, and enduring impact for the Indo-Pacific,” said the Wilmington Declaration issued after the fourth in-person Quad Summit.

“We celebrate the fact that over just four years, Quad countries have built a vital and enduring regional grouping that will buttress the Indo-Pacific for decades to come,” the declaration said.

“As four leading maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific, we unequivocally stand for the maintenance of peace and stability across this dynamic region, as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity,” it said, adding the grouping strongly opposes any destabilising or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion, in a veiled reference to China.

-PTI

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Saturday that Japan has supported the deployment of medical equipment and facilities, and also offered technical cooperation.

Addressing the Quad leaders’ Cancer Moonshot event in Wilmington, Delaware, Kishida said that such “endeavours will continue going forward.”

“Regarding our support for measures against cancers in the Indo-Pacific region, Japan has offered support such as the deployment of equipment and technical cooperation, or support through international organisations and initiatives,” the Japanese PM said in his remarks.

-ANI

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday that the country is on track to become the first nation in the world to eliminate cervical cancer.

At the Quad Leaders’ Cancer Moonshot event, Albanese announced that Australia was expanding their funding commitment towards the elimination partnership of cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Australia is on track to be the first country in the world to eliminate cervical cancer. Today, I can announce that Australia is expanding our funding commitment to the elimination partnership in the Indo-Pacific for cervical cancer,” he said.

-ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the Quad Summit here and exchanged views to deepen bilateral cooperation further.

Modi and Kishida reviewed the India-Japan relationship and talked about ways to expand the bilateral relations.

This was a farewell summit for the Japanese prime minister as he nears the end of his term in office on October 1.

It was Biden’s farewell summit too, as his term as the US President will end on January 20, 2025.

-PTI

President Joe Biden told Indo-Pacific allies on Saturday that he believes China’s increasing military assertiveness is an effort to test the region at a turbulent moment for Beijing.

Biden’s comments were caught by a hot mic after he and fellow leaders of the so-called Quad delivered opening remarks before the press at a summit he’s hosting near his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. He said his administration sees Beijing’s actions as a “change in tactic, not a change in strategy.”

“China continues to behave aggressively, testing us all across the region, and it’s true in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, South China, South Asia and the Taiwan Straits,” Biden told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

-AP

The U.S. and India plan to elevate bilateral technical, financial, and policy support to expand complementary manufacturing capacity for building on existing clean energy cooperation between the two nations, according to the White House.

- PTI

Mr. Biden and Mr. Modi welcomed the U.S.-India Roadmap to Build Safe and Secure Global Clean Energy Supply Chains, which launched a new initiative to accelerate the expansion of safe and secure clean energy supply chains through U.S. and Indian manufacturing of clean energy technologies and components. In its initial phase, the U.S. and India would work together to unlock USD 1 billion of multilateral financing to support projects across the clean energy value chain, said the joint statement.

- PTI

Recognising the “remarkable” progress under the U.S.-India Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, the two leaders welcomed efforts to expand defence industrial partnerships, including the teaming of Liquid Robotics and Sagar Defence Engineering for the co-development and co-production of unmanned surface vehicle systems that strengthen undersea and maritime domain awareness.

- PTI

Mr. Modi and Mr. Biden hailed a watershed arrangement to establish a new semiconductor fabrication plant, which will be enabled by support from the India Semiconductor Mission as well as a strategic technology partnership between Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech, and the U.S. Space Force.

They also welcomed progress toward the first joint effort by NASA and ISRO to conduct scientific research onboard the International Space Station in 2025 and appreciated the initiatives and exchange of ideas under the Civil Space Joint Working Group, pledging to pursue opportunities to deepen joint innovation and strategic collaborations.

- PTI

During the meeting, Mr. Biden said the U.S. supports initiatives to reform global institutions to reflect India’s important voice, including permanent membership for India in a reformed U.N. Security Council. The two leaders “expressed unrelenting optimism and the utmost confidence that the tireless efforts of our peoples, our civic and private sectors, and our governments to forge deeper bonds have set the U.S.-India partnership on a path toward even greater heights in the decades ahead,” the statement said.

- PTI

A joint statement issued after the meeting between PM Modi and U.S. President Joe Biden said the India-U.S. partnership is “decisively delivering on an ambitious agenda that serves the global good”, calling it the “defining partnership of the 21st century”.

Mr. Modi and Mr. Biden expressed confidence in the strength and continuing resilience of the relationship and their belief in its significance for all areas of human endeavour between the two countries, the MEA statement said.

- PTI

PM Modi said he will be happy to host the Quad Summit in 2025.

The Quad Leaders’ Summit this year was earlier supposed to be held in India, but U.S. President Joe Biden was keen to hold the event in his hometown.

This is a farewell summit for Mr. Biden as he nears the end of his term in office.

Mr. Modi recalled the first Quad Summit held in 2021 under Mr. Biden’s leadership and said, “In such a short time we have expanded our cooperation unprecedentedly in every direction.” “I thank you for your steadfast commitment, your leadership, and your contributions to the Quad,” he said.

- PTI

In his opening remarks at the summit, PM Modi said that the Quad is not against anyone, but for a rules-based international order and respect for sovereignty.

“Our message is clear - Quad is here to stay, to assist, to partner and to complement,” Mr. Modi said.

“We are not against anybody, we are for international rules-based order, respect for sovereignty,” the Prime Minister added.

A free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific is the grouping’s priority, Mr. Modi said, without naming any country.

- PTI

Khalistan supporters were sighted outside Archmere Academy where the Quad Summit is set to be held

Mr. Modi and Mr. Biden met for bilateral talks at the President’s house. The White House pool and Indian traveling press did not have access to this “personal meeting“ as the White House described it. 

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and India’s Ambassador to the U.S. Vinay Mohan Kwatra were present at the meeting from the Indian side. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan and U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti were present from the U.S. side. 

Mr. Biden, who is the final months of his presidency, is hosting the Quad summit at his longtime home, keen to emphasise the personal connect he has with the other leaders. 

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has not accompanied the Prime Minister to the U.S., The Hindu has confirmed. 

Mr. Doval’s name was on a U.S. District Court summons earlier this week in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

NSA Doval hasn’t travelled to the U.S. due to Jammu and Kashmir elections and other domestic commitments, according to sources.

​

PM Modi has arrived at Hotel duPont at Wilmington in Delaware, USA. He was welcomed by the Indian community there with a cultural performance.

As we wait for PM Modi and U.S. President Joe Biden’s bilateral discussions to begin, Reuters reports that President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discussed diplomacy with China and their shared concerns over “coercive and destabilising activities” in the South China Sea during a meeting on Saturday (September 21, 2024) ahead of the Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, the White House said.

- Reuters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X that he would be addressing the “Modi&US” programme at New York City on Sunday (September 22, 2024). He wrote on X saying, “At around 9.30 p.m. India time on Sunday, 22nd September, I will address the @ModiandUS programme in New York City. Let’s celebrate the bonds that connect our nations!”

BJP leader Tajinder Singh Sran posted a photo of the Nassau Coliseum at Uniondale, Nassau County, New York where the programme is scheduled to be held.

A brief look back at the past Quad summits:-

-> May 20, 2023 (Hiroshima, Japan) Format: In-person; Attending leaders: PM Albanese, PM Modi, PM Kishida, and President Biden; Notes: Australia was the host of the summit for the year, and was supposed to hold the summit in Sydney just after the G7 Hiroshima Summit. However, President Biden postponed his trip to Australia and Papua New Guinea at the last minute due to debt ceiling negotiations with Congress. Australia hosted the summit in Hiroshima instead. According to the readout from the Japanese side, the summit lasted about 50 minutes. 

-> May 24, 2022 (Tokyo, Japan) Format: In-person; Attending leaders: PM Albanese, PM Modi, PM Kishida, and President Biden; Notes: Australia held its federal election on May 21, and Anthony Albanese became Australia’s 31st Prime Minister on May 23, the day before the summit. According to the readout from the Japanese side, it lasted about 2 hours. 

-> March 3, 2022 (Virtual) Format: Video Call; Attending leaders: PM Scott Morrison (Australia), PM Modi, PM Kishida, and President Biden; Notes: According to the readout from the Japanese side, the video call was initiated and hosted by the United States. 4 leaders mainly exchanged views on the tense situation and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. It lasted about 70 minutes. 

-> Sept 24, 2021 (Washington, DC) Format: In-person; Attending leaders: PM Morrison, PM Modi, PM Yoshihide Suga (Japan), and President Biden; Notes: This was the first in-person summit. PM Suga attended the summit after he announced he was stepping down as Prime Minister on September 3. Fumio Kishida became the next Prime Minister on October 4. According to the readout from the Japanese side, it lasted about 2 hour and 20 minutes. 

-> March 12, 2021 (Virtual) Format: Video Call; Attending leaders: PM Morrison, PM Modi, PM Suga, and President Biden; Notes: This was the first Quad Leaders’ Summit. It lasted about 1 hour and 45 minutes. 

- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Delaware on Saturday (September 21, 2024) morning for a summit level meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) with U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. He was greeted by supporters from the Indian diaspora in the U.S. at a cultural performance at Hotel duPont, in downtown Wilmington, upon his arrival.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in the USA for his three-day visit to attend Quad summit, bilateral discussions and to address a key U.N. meeting.

- PTI

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters as meetings were set to get underway, “You guys have heard the president say many times that all politics is personal, all diplomacy is personal. And developing personal relationships has been core to his approach to foreign policy as president. So opening his home to the leaders of India, Japan and Australia is a way of him showing, not just saying, but these leaders matter to him.”

On Friday (September 20, 2024) afternoon, President Biden welcomed Australian PM Albanese to his home on a pond in a wooded area several miles west of downtown. On Saturday (September 21, 2024), he hosted Japan PM Kishida and PM Modi there before convening all the leaders for consultations at Archmere Academy in nearby Claymont.

Mr. Sullivan described the vibe of the meeting with Mr. Albanese as “two guys - one at the other guy’s home - talking in broad strokes about where they see the state of the world.”

- AP

Members of the Indian diaspora from different cities in the U.S. have gathered near Philadelphia International Airport and the Hotel duPont in Delaware, where PM Modi is expected to arrive after landing.

- ANI

At the Quad summit, new projects will be announced like a Coast Guard exercise and an initiative to fight cancer, called the Cancer Moonshot project, among others. “The U.S. Coast Guard will welcome Indian, Australian and Japanese coast guards on board its vessel in the Indo-Pacific, with other countries then taking turns to host,” a Biden administration official said, during a briefing call with reporters on Friday (September 20, 2024).

A Quad logistics network will be launched that allows for sharing cargo space on vessels and aircraft for humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) missions.

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