Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his first phone conversation with purported President-elect Joe Biden, and they agreed to work closely to further advance the Indo-U.S. comprehensive global strategic partnership, India’s External Affairs Ministry said Wednesday.
Modi congratulated Biden during their conversation on Tuesday and they discussed their priorities, including containing the coronavirus pandemic, promoting access to affordable vaccines, tackling climate change and cooperating in the Indo-Pacific Region, the ministry said in a statement.
Modi had earlier tweeted his congratulations to Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Nov. 8.
Several news outlets have called the presidential election for Biden and Harris. President Donald Trump is challenging the outcome and alleging voter fraud in court. Newsmax has not called the race, pending certification of election results by key states and legal outcomes of the president's challenges.
Modi recalled his earlier interactions with Biden, including during his official visits to the United States in 2014 and 2016. Biden had chaired the Joint Session of the U.S. Congress that was addressed by Modi during his 2016 visit to Washington.
Modi is known for his public displays of bonhomie with Trump, who visited India last February.
Stepping up the Trump administration’s anti-China message in India, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Defense chief Mark Esper visited India a week ahead of America’s Nov. 3 presidential election.
Pompeo and Esper signed an agreement expanding military satellite information sharing and highlighted strategic cooperation between Washington and New Delhi.
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