Biden and Modi discussed importance of U.S.-India strategic technology partnership: White House

The Air India order is Boeing's third biggest sale ever in dollar value and second in terms of the number of planes

President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the importance of the U.S.-India strategic technology partnership and committed to continue working together and in groups like the Quad to advance economic growth and expand cooperation on their shared priorities, a presidential spokesperson has said.

A phone call between the two leaders took place on Tuesday following the announcement of a historic deal between Boeing and Air India for the latter to buy more than 200 planes from the American plane manufacturer.

“They also discussed the importance of the strategic technology partners between India and the United States. And the two leaders reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-India relationship, and committed to continue working together and in groups like the Quad to advance economic growth for our two countries and expand cooperation on their shared priorities,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at a news conference.

In November 2017, the U.S., Australia, India and Japan gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence, amid China’s growing military presence in the strategic region.

China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.

Responding to a question, she said the White House does not have a trip or a meeting to announce at this time.

“I'll just leave it there. But they had a very good discussion,” she said when asked whether President Biden has invited Prime Minister Modi to the White House this summer.