US President Joe Biden is set to make a significant appearance on the international stage, as he gears up to attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi from September 7 to 10. During his visit, he will also have a bilateral meeting with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 8. This pivotal diplomatic event follows an earlier announcement made by American National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on August 22, as reported by Hindustan Times.
One of the key focal points of President Biden’s visit to India will be his strong advocacy for the reform of multilateral development banks (MDBs). He plans to propose measures aimed at bolstering the financial capacity of these institutions, with the ultimate goal of addressing pressing global issues such as poverty reduction, economic prosperity, and combatting the ever-pressing climate crisis. Moreover, President Biden aims to convey a message of solidarity with the global south during his stay in New Delhi.
The G20 Summit will serve as a platform for President Biden and his G20 counterparts to engage in collaborative efforts to tackle a wide array of global challenges. These include the transition to clean energy, the mitigation of climate change, addressing the economic and social impacts resulting from the conflict in Ukraine led by Vladimir Putin, and strengthening multilateral development banks like the World Bank to combat poverty and address global issues. The White House has emphasized the significance of the G20 as the premier forum for economic cooperation and has also announced the United States’ commitment to hosting the G20 in 2026.
While the details of the bilateral meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Modi are still being worked out, the discussions are expected to focus on implementing agreements that were reached during Modi’s state visit to the United States in June. However, due to India’s busy diplomatic schedule during the summit and time constraints, the scope of the bilateral engagement is anticipated to be somewhat limited.
Looking ahead, India is poised to host the next Quad leaders’ summit in 2024. This could potentially lead to a second visit by President Biden to New Delhi early next year, with a more substantial bilateral agenda. If this materializes, it would mark a historic moment as the first time an American president has visited India twice during their first term in office, as reported by Hindustan Times.