Washington DC:

Indicating the importance Washington gives to New Delhi as the new Trump administration takes office, US Secretary of State Maro Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Walz held their first bilateral and international meets respectively with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is in Washington at the invitation of the US Government to attend the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States. The meeting between the two top diplomats representing the world’s oldest and largest democracies took place at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the US State Department. The bilateral meeting was preceded by the first Quad ministerial meet after Donald Trump became President.

NEW US SECRETARY OF STATE’S FIRST BILATERAL MEETING

Marco Rubio’s decision to have his first bilateral meeting with India’s S Jaishankar assumes significance given that the first foreign outreach of any previous new US administration traditionally has been with its two neighbours Canada and Mexico, or with one of its NATO allies.

The bilateral meeting between new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Dr Jaishankar comes less than an hour after the former officially took office. The two leaders held wide-ranging discussions during which they delved into the entire gamut of the India-US strategic partnership. The meeting, which lasted for over an hour, also had India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, being part of it.

Immediately after the meeting, Secretary Rubio and Dr Jaishankar made a joint appearance before the international press, where they shook hands and posed for the official photographs.

“Delighted to meet @secrubio for his first bilateral meeting after assumption of office as Secretary of State. Reviewed our extensive bilateral partnership, of which @secrubio has been a strong advocate. Also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and global issues. Look forward to closely working with him to advance our strategic cooperation,” Dr Jaishankar wrote on social media platform X shortly after the meeting.

Delighted to meet @secrubio for his first bilateral meeting after assumption of office as Secretary of State.

Reviewed our extensive bilateral partnership, of which @secrubio has been a strong advocate.

Also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and global issues.

Look… pic.twitter.com/NVpBUEAyHK

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2025

NEW TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S MAIDEN QUAD MEET

Immediately before the two leaders met for bilateral talks, they joined their counterparts Penny Wong from Australia and Iwaya Takeshi from Japan for the new Trump administration’s maiden Quad meeting – a diplomatic and security partnership set up by the four nations to maintain peace and freedom of navigation under a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.

The meeting between the four top leaders went on for more than an hour, at the end of which they appeared before the press for a customary photograph. They however, did not take any questions or give any statement.

“Attended a productive Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting today in Washington DC. Thank @secrubio for hosting us and FMs @SenatorWong and Takeshi Iwaya for their participation,” Dr Jaishankar wrote, adding that it is “Significant that the Quad FMM took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump administration. This underlines the priority it has in the foreign policy of its member states. Our wide-ranging discussions addressed different dimensions of ensuring a free, open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

Attended a productive Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting today in Washington DC. Thank @secrubio for hosting us and FMs @SenatorWong & Takeshi Iwaya for their participation.

Significant that the Quad FMM took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump Administration. This… pic.twitter.com/uGa4rjg1Bw

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2025

He further noted that the four leaders “Agreed on the importance of thinking bigger, deepening the agenda and intensifying our collaboration. The meeting today sends a clear message that in an uncertain and volatile world, the Quad will continue to be a force for global good.”

MEETING WITH NEW US NSA MIKE WALZ

After these two meetings, Dr Jaishankar held another top meeting – with new US National Security Adviser or NSA Mike Walz. For Mr Walz too, this was his first international meeting since taking office earlier that same day. The meeting took place at the White House.

“Great to meet NSA @michaelgwaltz again this afternoon. Discussed strengthening our friendship to ensure mutual benefit and enhance global stability and prosperity. Looking forward to working together on an active and outcome oriented agenda,” Dr Jaishankar said after the meeting.

Great to meet NSA @michaelgwaltz again this afternoon.

Discussed strengthening our friendship to ensure mutual benefit and enhance global stability and prosperity.

Looking forward to working together on an active and outcome oriented agenda.

pic.twitter.com/LUlc1WBbWm

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2025

On Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was seen in the front row as US President Donald Trump delivered his inaugural address at the Capital Rotunda in Washington DC. Dr Jaishankar said it was a “great honour” to attend the ceremony as India’s special envoy. He also met members of the new Trump administration, including the 56th Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and nominee for the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Kash Patel.

He also exchanged a handshake with Vivek Ramaswamy, who quit the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency to possible pursue the race for Ohio Governor.
 

New York:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday left for home after wrapping up his “successful and substantial” three-day visit to the US during which he attended the Quad Leaders’ meeting, an overwhelming Indian community event and addressed the Summit of the Future at the UN General Assembly.

He also held bilateral meetings on Sunday with his Japanese and Australian counterparts on the sidelines of the Quad Summit and exchanged views to deepen bilateral cooperation further for mutual benefits and the ‘peace, stability, and prosperity’ of the Indo-Pacific region.

“PM @narendramodi emplanes for New Delhi after concluding a successful and substantial visit to the USA,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a post on X.

PM Modi arrived in the US on Friday and on Day 1, he attended the Quad Leaders’ meeting in Wilmington, Delaware.

Hosted by President Joe Biden, the Quad Leaders’ Summit took place on Saturday in his hometown Wilmington, Delaware. It was attended by Prime Minister Modi, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan.

In a rare gesture, US President Biden also hosted PM Modi for a bilateral meeting in his home, and the Quad summit was held at the Archmere Academy in Wilmington.

During their meeting, US President Biden welcomed the progress made towards India sealing procurement of 31 long-endurance MQ-9B armed drones from American defence major General Atomics, as he and Prime Minister Modi vowed to boost reciprocal supply of military hardware between the two sides.

PM Modi also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Australia and Japan on the sidelines of the summit.

Also, with the United States, a very special feature of the bilateral meeting was the return of 297 antiquities to India, a few of which were on display at President Biden’s residence during the meeting.

At the Quad Leadership Summit and others associated with it, Prime Minister Modi underlined India’s approach of cooperation, contact, and engagement for growth with a variety of partners in the Indo-Pacific.

Also, during the summit, the leaders announced the Quad Cancer Moonshot, a groundbreaking partnership to save lives in the Indo-Pacific region.

India pledged USD 7.5 million to combat cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Quad nations also announced a new regional Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI), to enable their partners in the region to maximise tools provided through Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) and other Quad partner initiatives to monitor and secure their waters, enforce their laws, and deter unlawful behaviour.

After wrapping up the Quad Leaders’ meeting in Wilmington, PM Modi left on Saturday for New York for Day 2 to attend an Indian community event at Long Island and later address a key conclave at the United Nations on Day 3.

On Saturday, PM Modi addressed a mega gathering of Indian-Americans at the Nassau Coliseum in New York.

Terming India as a “land of opportunities”, Prime Minister Modi told the gathering that he has set very ambitious goals for the country during his third term.

During the event, he also announced that India will open two new consulates in Boston and Los Angeles, meeting the long-pending demand of the fast-growing Indian American community in these two large American cities.

While Boston is considered the education and pharma capital of the US, Los Angeles, home to Hollywood, is hosting the next summer Olympics and current US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti is the city’s former mayor.

The event was attended by more than 13,000 Indian-Americans. While the majority of them were from the New York and New Jersey area, Indian-Americans came in from 40 states, organisers said. Sixty charter buses were used for transportation purposes.

Applauding the role of Indian-Americans in strengthening the relationship between India and the US, he called them India’s brand ambassadors.

After the event, Prime Minister Modi participated in a “fruitful” roundtable with the CEOs of leading American tech companies where he emphasised India’s growth prospects and discussed initiatives to foster bilateral collaborations across various sectors.

The meeting took place at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel on Sunday during the second leg of Modi’s three-day US visit. It saw the participation of CEOs of major US-based firms working on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing and semiconductors.

He urged CEOs of US majors to take advantage of India’s growth story as the country is making all efforts to become the third largest economy in the world in his third term.

On Day 3, Prime Minister Modi addressed the UN’s Summit of the Future and said that the “success of humanity lies in our collective strength, not on the battlefield”.

Addressing world leaders from the iconic podium of the UN General Assembly hall, Modi, beginning his speech with a “Namaskar”, said he brings the voice of 1.4 billion Indians or one-sixth of humanity to the UN.

During the conclave, PM Modi assured the world community that India will continue to work in thought, words and deeds to protect the rights of all humanity and for global prosperity. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Watch: Quad is here to stay, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in the U.S. for the annual Quad Summit.

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,” he said. A free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific is the grouping’s priority, Mr. Modi said, without naming any country. The leaders of the Quad group of countries met at their sixth summit-level meeting to announce a broad range of outcomes.

PM Modi in U.S. live updates – September 22, 2024

These included launching a new coast guard exercise, a logistics network, expanding maritime surveillance, and a project to combat cervical cancer.

The Quad summit holds immediate significance and takes place against the backdrop of pressing global challenges and transitions in leadership among some member nations.

Mr. Modi met U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese PM Kishida, and Australian PM Albanese for bilateral talks before the event.

US President Joe Biden, one of the architects of the Quad grouping, was asked ahead of the Quad summit in Delaware if it would survive beyond November elections. The question was posed at the outgoing President – who is not seeking re-election – as he posed for a photo with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian and Japanese counterparts, Anthony Albanese and Fumio Kishida.

The four leaders represent the four member countries of the Quad, a security and strategic grouping committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Responding to the question on Quad’s future, Biden turned around and placed a hand across PM Modi’s shoulder and said, “(It will survive) way beyond November.”

The Quad summit is being held in Biden’s hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.

The US elections this November will see a Kamala Harris versus Donald Trump fight with Biden not returning to the ring. Japan’s Kishida too has announced he won’t seek re-election. This implies both the US and Japan are set to be represented by new leaders at its next Quad summit.

In his opening remarks, PM Modi offered to host the Quad Leaders’ summit in India in 2025. He also highlighted that a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific is a shared priority and shared commitment of the Quad.

“We are meeting at a time when the world is surrounded by tensions and conflicts. At such a time, it is important for all of humanity that the members of the Quad move forward based on shared democratic values,” he told the Quad leaders.

US President Joe Biden, one of the architects of the Quad grouping, was asked ahead of the Quad summit in Delaware if it would survive beyond November elections. The question was posed at the outgoing President – who is not seeking re-election – as he posed for a photo with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian and Japanese counterparts, Anthony Albanese and Fumio Kishida.

The four leaders represent the four member countries of the Quad, a security and strategic grouping committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Responding to the question on Quad’s future, Biden turned around and placed a hand across PM Modi’s shoulder and said, “(It will survive) way beyond November.”

The Quad summit is being held in Biden’s hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.

The US elections this November will see a Kamala Harris versus Donald Trump fight with Biden not returning to the ring. Japan’s Kishida too has announced he won’t seek re-election. This implies both the US and Japan are set to be represented by new leaders at its next Quad summit.

In his opening remarks, PM Modi offered to host the Quad Leaders’ summit in India in 2025. He also highlighted that a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific is a shared priority and shared commitment of the Quad.

“We are meeting at a time when the world is surrounded by tensions and conflicts. At such a time, it is important for all of humanity that the members of the Quad move forward based on shared democratic values,” he told the Quad leaders.