Biden-Modi Virtual Meeting Underway

US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have begun their first talks since the war in Ukraine began as US attempts to prise India away from Russia's sphere of influence and confirm India as a key member of the Quad alliance to counter Chinese influence in the Asia-Pacific.

• A stream of the press spray ahead of the meeting can be followed: Here.
• The Biden-Modi talks precede high-level talks within the 2+2 format between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Indian counterparts Rajnath Singh and S Jaishankar.
• Delhi has so far been reluctant to speak openly against Russia and a pivot towards the alliance led by Western democrat states it would be a significant victory for the Biden administration.
• Indian foreign policy advisor Manoj Joshi speaking to the India Times says that India depends on Russia in three key areas.
  • 1. Arms: a dependency which he believes had been 'grossly understated'.
  • 2. Geopolitics: Russia has backed India on all key regional geopolitical conflicts.
  • 3. China: If India joins the US in condemning Russia then Indian analysts believe that Russia will be pushed further towards China, India's primary regional rival.
• If the US is to convince Delhi to break with Russia they will need to offer credible support on all three of these issues.