Biden, Modi focus on local weather, ‘democratic values’ in first talks | Civil Rights Information

The White House said Biden “realized that a shared commitment to democratic values ​​is the bedrock of US-India relations”.

President Joe Biden signaled in his initial talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he would seek to deepen the close ties between the United States and India by putting climate change and “democratic values” on the agenda.

Biden’s phone call on late Monday was a continuation of the optimistic tone of his predecessor Donald Trump, who made a state visit to India on his last overseas trip a year ago when his administration saw a partner in its tough stance on China.

But Biden also raised climate change, which the new US leader has made a top priority given the rapidly warming temperatures of the planet.

Biden and Modi are committed to “working closely together to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, renew their partnership on climate change, rebuild the global economy in ways that will benefit the people of both countries, and together fight against the scourge of global terrorism, “said the White House in a statement.

In New Delhi, the Prime Minister’s office greeted Modi with Biden’s increase in climate aspirations and the resumption of the Paris Agreement, from which Trump resigned in 2017.

Modi is looking forward to participating in a climate summit that Biden wants to convene in April.

India is the third largest carbon emitter responsible for climate change after China and the United States and has historically argued that it is unfair to abide by the same rules as developed nations.

In his statement, the White House also said that Biden “underscored his desire to defend democratic institutions and norms around the world, and stated that a shared commitment to democratic values ​​is the foundation for US-India relations”.

India enjoys widespread support in the US, but is increasingly criticized by some lawmakers in Biden’s Democratic Party as Modi pursues its nationalist agenda for Hindus, including the revocation of statehood from India’s Muslim majority-administered Kashmir.

India has drawn additional attention in recent days from celebrities like pop superstar Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg over the internet blackouts in New Delhi, where protesting farmers have been camping for more than two months.

The White House said Biden had also spoken to Modi about “maintaining the rule of law and democratic process in Burma,” where the military regained power a week ago.

India has a close relationship with its neighbor, also known as Myanmar, and maintains contact with its military, even when Western nations avoid it on human rights grounds.