Joe Biden on Monday pledged to further strengthen relations between the United States and India during his first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing climate change and
"democratic"
values
among the common priorities of the two powers .
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The US President spoke on the phone with the Indian leader, in line with the good relations established by his predecessor Donald Trump, who made a state visit to India a year ago, on his last trip to the foreign.
The previous government saw New Delhi as a major ally in its hard line against China.
Joe Biden also discussed with Narendra Modi the fight against climate change, one of his priorities at odds with the former Republican president.
The two men pledged to
"work closely together to win the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, renew their partnership on climate change, rebuild the world economy in the interest of the peoples of both countries and jointly counter terrorism international, ”
the White House said in a statement.
The Indian prime minister's services said he praised Joe Biden's emphasis on climate issues, and that he would participate in the climate summit that the US president wants to organize in April.
India, the third emitter of carbon dioxide after China and the United States, believes that emerging countries cannot be subject to the same rules as rich countries.
The White House also said that Joe Biden had
"underlined his desire to defend democratic institutions and norms around the world"
, assuring that a "shared commitment to democratic values was at the basis of bilateral relations".
Despite US support for India, elected officials from the new US president's Democratic Party criticized Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalism.