Our Bureau
Washington, DC/New Delhi
The G-20 leaders’ summit under India’s presidency is scheduled to take place in New Delhi this September. All eyes seem to be on the G20 summit meeting in New Delhi next month.
The US State Department said on Thursday that Washington would welcome any country that intends to take steps towards resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which will also be one of the core agendas during the upcoming G20 summit in New Delhi.
US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said that the US looks forward to discussing the issues of security cooperation and climate and energy challenges with India and other member states during the G20 summit.
When asked about the range of issues to be discussed at the G20 summit under India’s presidency, Vedant Patel said, “The issues that you outlined, of course, are important. Bilateral issues that we look forward to discussing with India in any context, as well as other members of the G20, whether that be security cooperation, the opportunity to discuss climate and energy issues, and, of course, Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war in Ukraine.”
On being asked about whether there will be some kind of solution or agreement to stop the Russia-Ukraine war, during the G20 summit in New Delhi, Patel said that Washington will welcome “any country” that takes steps towards resolving the matter.
“We would welcome any country that, wants to take steps to support our Ukrainian partners. And, we would welcome any country playing a role in conveying, continuing to convey to the Russian Federation how important and dire it is that they leave Ukraine altogether and stop attempting to violate Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty,” he added.
Meanwhile, stating that Washington DC is ‘thrilled’ with New Delhi’s leadership, America’s Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Becerra said that India and US can move forward in the direction of universal healthcare and making digital technology available.
He further affirmed confidence that India will make a strong effort in its G20 Presidency to move all the member nations with consensus.
Becerra said, “Based on the conversation and relationship between Prime Minister Modi and President Biden, I think we can expect great things to happen between India and the US. Obviously, there is G20, and there are 18 more countries. We are very thrilled with the leadership we have seen from India.”
The HHS Secretary said India is pushing a very progressive agenda and the US is “very supportive” of those efforts as it compliments what Washington DC is trying to accomplish as well. He said he hoped that 18 others could become willing partners to move forward.
On the partnership in Indo-Pacific and Quad vaccine, he said, “We certainly agree that there needs to be a mechanism to make sure that no one in the world, whoever region they are in, goes without. I know when it comes to pushing forward an agenda that lets us work cooperatively, that is one of the principal goals that India has during its leadership of the G20.”
“We want to be supportive of that. There is no doubt, that there would be challenges, in some places we won’t have a full agreement. But I believe India is going to make a strong effort in the G20 to move us all with consensus. We are very supportive of those efforts. Because, you cannot have disruptions in that level of cooperation, because then you will have disruptions in the supply chain,” he added.
On the positives that can come out of the growing partnership between the US and India, Becerra said strengthening the partnership between two regional and global leaders would also bring about better connectivity among other countries across the globe.
He added that the partnership between India and the US would be able to fill some of the gaps that have existed in the past.
“What we think is going to happen at the G20 is further building momentum towards working together. Some like India, and the US have more capacity than others, but I think we are all willing to try to share to make sure that we bring everyone on board,” he added.
