PM Modi, Joe Biden to hold virtual meet ahead of 2+2 talks

Ahead of the 2 + 2 ministerial dialogue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will hold a virtual meet on Monday. This will be the first bilateral interaction between the two leaders since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"The two leaders will review ongoing bilateral cooperation and exchange views on recent developments in South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region and global issues of mutual interest. The virtual meeting will enable both sides to continue their regular and high-level engagement aimed at further strengthening the bilateral comprehensive global strategic partnership," the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday evening.

While the Indian statement on Modi-Biden meet has no mention of Ukraine and Russia, White House statement refers to the Russian war in Ukraine.


External affairs minister S Jaishankar and defence minister Rajnath Singh have reached the US for the dialogue. The ministers are also expected to meet Biden.




While Ukraine and differences over Russia in the backdrop of India's ties with Moscow are expected to be key part of the agenda, the issue of petroleum reserves besides regional consultations on Afghanistan, West Asia, Africa and South Asia are also expected to dominate the fourth round of the India-US 2+2 ministerial (foreign & defence) in Washington on Monday.

The defence minister is also scheduled to visit the headquarters of US' Indo-Pacific Command at Hawaii after his visit to Washington DC.

The meeting would also focus on UN Security Council issues as well as India's G-20 presidency and a global Covid-19 action plan, ET has learnt.

China's aggression and Indo-US cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region including Quad will figure high on the agenda. This is the maiden 2+2 meet since the Biden administration came to power.

Amid pressure on India to reduce its oil imports from Russia, global petroleum reserves and US efforts to bolster those are expected to feature high on the agenda, ET has learnt. India has taken strong exception to allegations over its limited oil imports from Russia, saying that it had been unfairly targeted while Europe continued its bulk energy imports from Russia.

India's Russian oil import has been one issue that has been brought up over the last few weeks after the US and other nations slapped sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine offensive. "Each country is going to make its own decision," White House's press secretary Jen Psaki said last week when asked about Russia, admitting that "India's import of Russian energy represents only 1-2% of their total energy imports."

India has affirmed that it would continue to pursue policies in its national interests amid growing domestic needs in India. New Delhi's oil imports bill from the US is higher than that from Russia.

Besides energy, collaboration over new technologies, the space sector and climate change, besides climate financing are expected to figure prominently in the 2+2 meet, ET has learnt. While foreign minister Jaishankar will also meet secretary of state Antony Blinken separately, defence minister Singh will separately meet US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin in the Pentagon. The two will discuss defence cooperation including defence industrial collaboration and capability building through military-to-military engagements.

On Friday, Psaki said: "Biden believes our partnership with India is one of the most important relationships we have in the world. He expects this dialogue will continue driving forward our work with India and shared goals in the Indo-Pacific region."