Modi, Biden Back 'Rules-Based International Order,' Call For Respect To Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity

Washington D.C./23.06.23/Turan:   The United States and India backed "rules-based international order", highlighted the need to respect countries' territorial integrity on Thursday during a state visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington hosted by President Joe Biden, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports from the White House.

"Today, we also talked about our shared efforts to mitigate the humanitarian tragedies unleashed by Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine and to defend the core principles of the U.N. Charter: sovereignty and territorial integrity," Biden told a news conference after their 2.5 hour private meeting.

Modi, in his turn, recalled that from the very beginning of the events in Ukraine, India has laid emphasis on resolution of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy. "We are completely ready to contribute in any way we can to restore peace."

Expressing their deep concern over the conflict in Ukraine, the leaders mourned the war's "terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences” — its serious impacts on the global economic system, including on food, fuel and energy security, and critical supply chains.

They also called for greater efforts to mitigate the consequences of the war, especially in the developing world. In a joint statement, they noted the "serious and growing impacts of the war on the global economic system, including on food, fuel and energy security, and critical supply chains."

Both countries pledged "continuing humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine" and "concurred on the importance of post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine."

Modi, who later in the day addressed the joint session of the U.S. Congress for almost an hour, recalled what he had told directly to Russia's Putin, "this is not an era of war.”

It is the era "of dialogue and diplomacy and we all must do what we can to stop the bloodshed and human suffering,” he concluded.

In their joint statement, the leaders also reaffirmed their resolve to "counter any attempts to unilaterally subvert the multilateral system."

Biden and Modi reiterated their enduring commitment to a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous India-Pacific region.

Alex Raufoglu