A phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President-elect Joe Biden will take place “in due course” at a mutually convenient time, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
Statements released by Biden’s transition team in the past two days said the president-elect had so far spoken by phone with the leaders of France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and South Korea.
In response to a question at the weekly press conference about a call between Modi and Biden, Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said “it will happen in due course at a mutually convenient time.”
He noted that the prime minister had congratulated Biden through a tweet on November 8 and also appreciated the president-elect’s contribution to strengthening relations between India and the United States in his previous capacity as vice president.
Modi has also conveyed that “he hopes to work with [Biden] to take relations between India and the United States to greater heights, ”said Srivastava.
Srivastava said that the foundation of the India-US relationship is solid and that the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the two countries has the bipartisan support of the Republican and Democratic parties in the United States. “It has also been seen that all successive US presidents and administrations have raised the status of these relationships,” he said.
Modi had tweeted separate congratulatory messages to Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, the first woman and the first American Indian to be elected to the position.
“Congratulations @JoeBiden on your spectacular win! As vice president, his contribution to strengthening Indo-US relations was critical and invaluable. I look forward to working closely once again to take the US-Indian relations to greater heights, ”he said.
“Heartfelt congratulations @KamalaHarris! His success is groundbreaking and a source of immense pride not only for his Chittis, but also for all American Indians. I am confident that the vibrant ties between India and the United States will be further strengthened with their support and leadership, ”Modi added.
Biden’s reach and contacts with world leaders have been affected by a lack of cooperation from the outgoing administration of Donald Trump, which has refused to accept the results of the US elections.
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