Biden to host PM Modi at White House on Sept 24; bilateral meeting to discuss global terror, Afghanistan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 21

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for the US on Wednesday where he will address the UN General Assembly and attend the Quad Summit as well as a bilateral with US President Joe Biden at the White House.

PM Modi will also have a bilateral engagement with the US Vice President Kamala Harris, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said at a press conference. This will be PM Modi’s first formal interaction with Harris, he added. Harris had backed Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal when Foreign Minister S Jaishankar had declined to attend a US Foreign Relations Committee meeting because of her presence.

NSA Ajit Doval and the Foreign Secretary will accompany PM Modi on his US visit while Jaishankar is already in the US.

Biden will host PM Modi at the White House on September 24. Later on that day, Biden will host the first-ever in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit with PM Modi and Prime Ministers of Japan and Australia.

“In the first bilateral meeting with Biden, PM Modi will discuss dismantling global terror, cross-border terrorism and the regional security situation in Afghanistan. They are also expected to discuss boosting trade and investment ties, strengthening defence and security collaborations and clean energy partnership among others,” said Shringla.

PM Modi’s address at UNGA is slated for September 25.