On Monday, August 26, US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a phone call to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war and the situation in Bangladesh.
Modi took to the social media platform X and stated that he and Biden discussed the situation in Ukraine on the call, and “reaffirmed India’s full support for an early restoration of peace and stability.”
Since the Soviet era, Moscow has been a major supplier of weapons to India. In recent years, to counter China’s growing influence, Washington and New Delhi have been strengthening their ties and enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
In July of this year, Modi visited Russia. On the day he arrived in Moscow, Russia launched massive airstrikes on Kyiv, resulting in at least 41 deaths. One missile hit a children’s hospital in Kyiv, sparking anger and condemnation from the international community.
Last week, Modi visited Ukraine, marking the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited Ukraine since Kyiv’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. During the visit, Modi urged Ukrainian President Zelensky to hold talks with Russia to end the war, expressing willingness to assist Ukraine in achieving peace.
Additionally, Ukraine and India signed four important cooperation agreements, including in the fields of healthcare, agriculture, humanitarian assistance, and cultural exchange, solidifying their partnership. The two countries also signed agreements in other areas of cooperation, including continuing military technology cooperation.
Zelensky stated on the X platform that Modi’s visit also aimed to pay homage to the Ukrainian children who lost their lives due to Russian aggression, expressing gratitude for this gesture.
The White House issued a statement on Monday, August 26, praising Modi’s recent historic visits to Poland and Ukraine, and commending his delivery of “messages of peace and ongoing humanitarian support to Ukraine” during the visits.
Both leaders expressed their commitment to continue supporting the peaceful resolution of conflicts based on international law under the United Nations Charter. They also emphasized their dedication to joint efforts, including through regional groupings like the Quad (comprising the US, Japan, India, and Australia), to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
In his post, Modi mentioned that he and Biden also discussed the situation in neighboring Bangladesh on the phone, emphasizing the need for the swift restoration of normalcy and ensuring the safety of minority groups in Bangladesh, especially Hindu communities.
Since June, student protests against the quota system for civil service positions in Bangladesh have escalated into anti-government unrest, resulting in at least 300 deaths, many of whom are students from universities.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh resigned and fled to India. In Muslim-majority Bangladesh, religious minority groups have been subjected to violent attacks in the power vacuum, particularly Hindus.
The temporary government of Bangladesh has stated that efforts are underway to address the attacks on Hindu and other religious minority groups following the resignation of former Prime Minister Hasina.