New Delhi: Joe Biden, the newly elected President of the United States, has been a staunch supporter of strong Indo-US relations since the 1970s. He was instrumental in getting Senate approval for a Civil Nuclear Deal between the two countries in 2008 and also supported several anti-terrorism bills.
In 2001, Biden chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and wrote a letter to then-President George W. Bush seeking the lifting of sanctions on India. Biden was present in the Senate as an important ally of India during the in-depth negotiations between the two countries to finalize the civilian nuclear deal. That agreement proved to be a foundation for deepening ties between the two strong democracies.
Well known strategic affairs expert P.S. Raghavan said Biden was Vice President during President Barack Obama’s tenure and was an important part of the process of developing relations. The Indo-Pacific partnership began during Obama’s tenure. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Democratic Party leader Joe Biden on his victory in the US presidential election on Saturday night. He also mentioned his contribution to further strengthening Indo-US relations during his tenure as US Vice President.
‘Joe Biden, congratulations on your great victory. As Vice President, your contribution to strengthening Indo-US relations has been significant and invaluable. I look forward to working together once again to take Indo-US relations to greater heights .’- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Biden arrived in India on a four-day visit as Vice President in July 2013, when he met then President Pranab Mukherjee, then Vice President Hamid Ansari and also visited the Gandhi Memorial Museum in Delhi. He also visited Mumbai where he met business leaders and gave a speech on policy at the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Indo-US strategic ties strengthened
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the United States in September 2014, the then Vice President Biden hosted a banquet for him. During Barack Obama’s tenure, there was a major expansion in strategic and defense relations between India and the United States, with Biden playing a key role.
India was given the status of a major defense partner
It was the Obama administration that made India a “major defense partner” of the United States in 2016. India’s claim to permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council was also supported by the Obama administration. In his promotional documents, Biden outlined his views on the US-India partnership and spoke of supporting India in addressing threats in the region. U.S.-India relations have grown significantly over the past few years, with over 4 million Indian-Americans in the U.S. playing a significant role. The US is India’s largest trading partner.
