Hi, everybody. Thank you for joining. This is her business skin deputy White House Communications Director, and I'm joined by NSC coordinator for the Indo Pacific Kurt Campbell and NSC Senior Director for South Asia, Admiral Eileen Lau Bakker. And we're going to do a briefing here to read out the bilat and take your questions. So with that, I will kick it over to
thanks. Sorry. And hey, welcome, guys. I very much appreciate the chance to get with you this evening. I know we've got long flights, but what we'll do is give you a sense of what the bilateral pilots are both in the bilateral with the Prime Minister and the President and if there are any questions about sort of the framing the larger trip, we're happy to do that as well. So let me just give you a sense of the larger context. So I think, Eileen, and I certainly been in most of the meetings of not all two leaders. What I have seen, grown over time is undeniable warmth, and confidence between the two leaders, which has basically developed over a series of meetings and shared projects and ambitions over the last several years. I think the Prime Minister underscored how much he appreciated the remarkable state visit that he experienced when he came to the United States earlier this year and all the initiatives in technology and space and education. And people, the people that were rolled out at that time. I think at the outset, just you know, we all experienced meetings like this. The foundation of the engagement at this time is a deep sense of engagement shared purpose and ambition between the two leaders. And it's undeniable and you can see, the second thing I would just underscore is that it was very clear from our Indian interlocutors we engaged with before we went into the larger meeting and also from the Prime Minister that there was a clear appreciation on the part of India that President Biden is here, and that he made the trip and I think what you've all seen and you will see over the next couple of days, India's been planning for this g 20. For many years, this is a major event for India, the entire nation is on display. Eileen and I were commenting as we come into town, Delhi it's almost unrecognizable the amount of effort they put in to make sure that their very best face in terms of welcome for visitors is is clear. And I think it is a disappointment for Indian that both Russia and China are not here. And the fact that the United States probably the country that India has invested the most in deepening and developing a relationship with showed up and is engaged in every major initiative that will be rolled out over the next couple of days was worth reassuring and gratifying for Indian interlocutors and that was not lost on us and I would just say just a couple of things. Just in closing. I'll turn it over to Eileen, who's also clear even though we've I think done a lot that takes the US India relationship to the next level and again, technology semiconductors advanced 5g Six G ambitions for working more closely together the future. I think both leaders made clear that they do want ambitious results for the G 20. I think you've heard talks about the quarter that's being discussed. There's going to be more to say. I will say that Indian interlocutors are hopeful they have gotten behind this project and they realize that this could be a major breakthrough that would help fundamental delays with respect to infrastructure and communications India with the Middle East and then on to Europe. And so I think they are working intensively behind the scenes to try and try to propel this ambitious project for to get President others will have more to say tomorrow. Just last thing I will say. I do want to just underscore for you that in every meeting that I've been in the president, presidents very clear about the importance of the health of democracy. He doesn't do this in such a way that suggests that one country is lecturing to another but rather that we all fair face shared challenges, and we think it's important that we're constantly asking the hard questions about our democracy. And he made very clear, again in the meeting of Minister Modi, that this is an important issue in our bilateral relationship. I will say the President had a private interaction with the Prime Minister. I'm not going to go into those details, but my experience is that the President is direct, open and does not shy from heart challenges. But what makes it effective is that he begins from a platform of trust and confidence. And I believe that allows is interlocutors to hear sometimes challenging issues more effectively while stuff.
So I would just like to say to highlight a few of what I thought were some of the significant things that they discussed their sort of outflows from the visit in June. So they talked about moving forward and a number of the overarching areas that we talked about in the June visit, but how fleshing them out more and more with each passing day. So talking about first of all the goals of G 20, which Kurt laid out and how India, the United States together, can can help to grow the developing world and be leaders. I think, that was as Kurt said that it was very much appreciated. The US support for India's presidency and our participation not just in this leader summit, but all through this is a very exciting year for India. But then looking at things like space, so they they highlighted that, you know, India's lunar lander and then looking at the theory is where we're going to be cooperating next International Space Station and 2024 things of that nature and how can we do more human flight interactions also then, moving into Iset, which started last year and was really started with a with a bang and we're moving forward on all fronts and they really in quantum in 5g Six G. microchips and then into the defense realm, an area that we have long been growing our cooperation with India, things like the G 414 engine licensing which is now being granted India's request for MQ nines. The work that's happening on intersects to really grow startups and their their ability to Indian startups to enrich our own defense industry. They've signed founder mastership prepare agreement, which is very exciting. But then also on everything, you know, we're talking about the Cancer Moonshot and the fact that they're going to be working on a cancer dialogue together. What I think is, is impressive with these meetings is how how long they can go because there are so many different topics to talk about. And the leaders are so comfortable discussing, really the breadth of things that we're trying to accomplish together.
I don't want to get her up on late here, but I will say that is what's really striking is in many respects, these are both very technocratic leaders. You wouldn't necessarily think that would be the case, but they'd go deep into the particulars of each of these issues. I would also say just just again, one of the things that it reminded me of a substantial dialogue about the importance, particularly of India's role but how the United States can support outreach to the global south and that the G 20 years that key vehicle for that dialogue and dealing with critical issues like food and inflation will be on the agenda in this year in the years ahead.
Yeah, and how they how the United States and India as as democracies can help grow the developing world together in ways that we think are positive and both leaders really similar time emphasize.
I would just say one last thing, guys, and just I mean, it's just it's a tonal thing, but it's just undeniable like I've been working on India for so the animals served here and as a gold in your hand. I've been working on India for 35 years. I would say that the essential feature of dialogue for much of that time was distrust, uncertainty and distrust and just in the last five to 10 years and really in the last couple of years, that has completely turned around, and it is you can sense it in almost all of our interactions and this is not just with high level officials. This is across the government gets state and local officials and a tremendous sense of potential for the US India partnership in a way that, frankly, the older generation in India was resistant about I think that is now embraced among younger Indians, who believe and fundamentally aspire to host her interaction across the border technology, investment education with the United States and so
overall, just I just completely be happy to take some questions.
We're frankly thrilled to be here. It's great to see the Indians so appreciative that we come and, you know, lots of discussion about our continuing dialogue and hopes that the President will continue to want to come to India in the future. I don't want to get into some of the possibilities on the calendar but they're, they've met and interacted a lot over the last three years and I think they want to have the 10 questions you guys just need just let I know some of you but not all of you just let us know anymore.
Hi, Carl. Omer Makani from the Associated Press. It's just too broad questions. You mentioned Indians disappointment that China and Russia is not here. And the flip side are these disturbed perhaps some opportunities created by the absence of the leadership of things that can be pushed forward or just the tenor of the discussion without them there, and also just opportunities for the United States while you're trying to expand these MDPs? And then, secondly, did the President specifically didn't express any frustration about press access, or also just broader progress on democracy issues here?
So let me just answer the first question. First, if I could, so I just think they're undeniable opportunities here for the United States that we're already working towards manifesting and I think you'll see that there will be many more initiatives that come out of this visit. So absolutely. We fully intend to strengthen and deepen our relationship. And we leave it to China in particular to discuss and explain while why they are not here. It's really their business. But I will say that I think for Indian partners, there is substantial disappointment that they're not here and gratitude that we are and then I will just say I you know, we try to be clear here you guys have every meeting the issues that are of importance to me, the health of society. issues that we believe are important in a flourishing democracy the president raises, but we're not going to go in the back and forth. I think the President has determined that he wants to conduct that dialogue in a dignified, respectful way, and I will respect
the phone on the help of democracy question. I know you said that the President brought it up I know over the summer as well. I acknowledged about it in private. Do you all see any movement or improvements from your Indian counterparts on some of these issues of press freedom and human rights democratic wars?
Look, I will say and I think we've noticed this too, before. I don't think many of you believe that. There would be a press conference in Washington DC and there was we have insisted on a number of things, and I think we've seen evidence of that. There are a number of things in India that that we believe are quite strong and healthy. And there are other issues that frankly, we continue to have dialogue over. I think this is India continues to be a work in progress. And I think the key here is for us to maintain a respectful dialogue, and to approach some of the challenges with the degree of humility given some of the challenges that we face, in our own country as well.
Yeah, and I think I would just absolutely agree with what curry has said and then I would just say that we
we do see
positive indicators and then during the last Karnataka elections, you know, BJP did not win that election and this body immediately tweeted, congratulations to Karnataka, so I think they're the weather. I wouldn't need to ascribe it to to our own influence, but I think that all of us striving to be the best Congress's we can be is a good thing.
Hey, I'm Justin, from Bloomberg. As we were taking off from DC, one of the big tensions seemed to be the communique language or on climate that it seems like that's at least been settled somewhat. In the time it took us to get here and I know it's a big priority for Prime Minister Modi. I was wondering if you could kind of talk us through how those conversations went if you're satisfied with the language as it ends up and if, at this point, the last sort of remaining issue and communicate it was Ukraine or if there are other
things like the one thing I would just tell you about how the tempo of these things go right these are. These are multiple negotiations. Each country has slightly different admissions and domestic context and so rather than view this as like, oh my gosh, there's huge tension here at the end. This is the way it always goes like like, it comes down to this and we're all here. I will say we are finding that on issues that matter to us. We're making progress and there's there's clearly been some more movement on climate. I'm going to let the meeting speak for themselves over the course of the next couple of days. I will tell you that the US side along with our allies remain purposeful determined and resolute on issues involving Ukraine and we will repeat itself and we've made that absolutely clear with all our lockers.
I know data goes without borders. Hi. I'm sure it's men detail. Yeah. Hi. I just want to understand a little bit more about the expectations the President has from India, when it comes to India supporting his goals for this summit, you know, around the Belt and Road Initiative that China has so you know, you're talking about this strong message on debt distress, you know, the World Bank reforms that he's proposing. What what sort of a role does President Biden want India to play when it comes to supporting his specific ideas for the G 20 summit?
So I mean, look, there's so many I don't want to get ahead of our team. But I think because, you know, we're in the process of discussing the some important reforms for international financial institutions. multilateral development bank's those deliberations have been of critical importance with Indian particularly around mechanisms dealing with debt. Many of the countries in their backyard have experienced deep debt problems with China and they have worked with us constructively on those issues. I think it is fair to say that after some years of challenges on climate as was asked, we are seeing now in many respects, a takeoff on indeed with respect to investment in renewables and the like, and we'll be talking about that and also transition fuels. I think that India is determined and purposeful in insisting that that issues of concern to the south in the global south are recognized in these deliberations and they carry that responsibility very seriously. And so I think there will be an attempt to sort of work towards some issues on food security. Again, I would rather leave that for the next couple of days. But I would say that what we have seen like we saw in Bali is that the level of ambition that we're seeing among not only the elites, you know, kind of more advanced industrialized democracies, but also India is encouraging and important. And it's not that long ago that had many multilateral forums. You can count on the United States and India to be at loggerheads, but increasingly venues like the G 20 IPF and the quad we are working in much closer partnership not just in a bilateral context, but multilateral, whether it's on vaccines, or maritime domain awareness for investment in infrastructure. So I think you'll split I don't want to raise expectations too high. But look, there are ambitions here to get stuff done and I will say what we're also, you know, quietly working on us this quarter, and there'll be more to say there but I will say in the meeting. This was something that the President designed to help think how to put this together. India the strongest champion wants this done, working behind the scenes with our partners in the Middle East, to crack to try to conclude what will be frankly, an almost earth shaking corridor that will make Indian South Asia to Europe in fundamental ways. I'm just giving you where we are. I don't like this is weren't meant to set the scene free for the next couple of days. Those are not concluded. We're in the middle of it. I think the important thing for you to hear here in that bilateral meeting the strongest supporter of this initiative is Indian what we are finding increasingly at the quad at the G 20. Is that the many issues were in the past. It was almost a knee jerk reaction from India almost to resist. Now on many issues, debt space to technology. It's how we can work more constructively together.
Would you characterize this as India sort of recognizing its role as a counterweight to China when it comes to the United States? I mean,
I'm sorry to interrupt you. It's much more than that. It is. India is coming to understand the globally significant role in place. I have said I a lot of people don't accept this or maybe say it's an exaggeration. I believe that the most important bilateral relationship in the 21st century United States will be with India, interesting. India's role, largest country in the world youngest most dynamic, most interested in education, innovation, all the things that animate its culture. present it as this country that links east and west, geographically north and south. And so yes, I think that the what we're seeing is a dawning Indian awareness of the importance of its role and rather than shrink from it, I think they accept it. I mean, I believe
but I also think I mean, what Kurt is saying is so true. And I think that we what we heard was something that I observed over the last five years as a growing point where our leaders at various levels could almost exchange talking points because we're looking at things you know, we're in the same way. And that's that is I think that in the end, the US working cooperatively together is what we see on so many levels. And we see that with regard to G 20 in the developing world as well. So
there's just two last just question I want to be careful here though. I do want to just underscore that in India does want a steady stable relationship with China. But but they have terms and and they are not prepared. To sacrifice their security interests for commercial pursuits. We support them and like other countries, we to see this stable and steady relationship lines of communication with China, and we welcome efforts to ease tensions between Beijing and Delhi.
In a quick question there, uh, you know, just around sort of security issues around the Indian Ocean, you know, this is something that has been, you know, something that India has talked about for a long time, even though the US is you know, sort of focused on security issues in the Indo Pacific. Was there sort of any effort to perhaps also talk about security issues in the, you know, around the Indian Ocean, that India wants to prioritize?
Let me just to add lockers or here, just just it's true because like initiatives don't just come out of anywhere. So, you're absolutely right, that most of our discussions have been about the Indian Ocean, excuse me about the Indo Pacific, the South China Sea and sea lanes that connect the Indo Pacific with South Asia. We also talk and support India, in its efforts to secure the line of actual control. We're clear about that. But one of the things that has happened since the June summit and subsequently is in Indian interest, after a long time of ambivalence to engage with us much more deeply in a dialogue on the Indian Ocean, and the architect of that is Eileen. So we will start those discussions soon and they will involve not just like traditional security, fishing issues and they will they will stretch not just from the eastern Indian Ocean, but all the way to the coast of Africa. And I want to say, Yeah,
I mean, I would say that say that, you know, we have seen a huge shift in our interest in our ability to be able to talk about that more, frankly, and a desire in that we we talked about this in the June Summit and the leaders agreed to to pursue this and now we're getting on the books, because I think that this is exactly the kind of thing that we're interested in, in having discussions with India wants to talk about how we see the world and have larger and larger scale conversations as they do their their role more globally and want to work with us more. So I think it's incredibly valuable.
We have time for one more question. CBS
CBS therapist, CBS thank you both are doing now we appreciate you taking the time. Just back to the corridor. I noticed. You know the Indian interlocutors were very hopeful about this project that discussions are going Are there particular sticking points that are getting?
So I would just also just underscore this this set of incredibly ambitious negotiations that have been conducted by a small group of people and they are all here, and you're going to have opportunities to engage them over the course of the next couple of days. Just like we were talking about the final communicates, right? In the last moment, that's when things come together where they don't with huge, enormous ambitious deals. It always comes to this place. And so we're all here. And look, I will tell you that the American team is extraordinarily competent in April. And we've got some willing interlocutors, we'll see if it's possible. Are you optimistic that it will get across the finish line over here? You know, I don't know if I'm, I'm, I don't know if I'm engaged deeply enough to be able to give you a judgment on it. But but I'm sure our excellent press team are going to make those scripts available. All right. All right. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you. We appreciate you guys. In look will if you
