Preparations underway for PM’S possible visit to US this month

IF THE VISIT DOES GO AHEAD, MODI IS ALSO EXPECTED TO ADDRESS ANNUAL UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK AND HOLD BILATERAL TALKS WITH JOE BIDEN

NEW DELHI: A visit to the US by Prime Minister Narendra Modi this month is being linked to clarity on the holding of the first in-person summit of Quad leaders following Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s decision to step down, people familiar with matter said on Saturday.

The first face-to-face meeting of leaders of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, after their maiden virtual summit in March, was being seen as the centrepiece of a visit to the US by Modi. However, Suga’s surprise move led to confusion and uncertainty about the Quad meet to be hosted by Washington, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity.

The Indian side has begun advance preparations for a possible visit by the prime minister, and some of the grounds were laid during foreign secretary Harsh Shringla’s three-day visit to Washington this week. There has been no formal announcement from the Indian side, though dates between September 22 and 27 were being looked at for the visit.

If the visit does go ahead, Modi is also expected to address the annual UN General Assembly in New York and hold his first bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden.

“There is some amount of confusion and lack of clarity on whether the Japanese PM will travel to the US following his decision to step down. The Indian side has begun the spade work but a call will have to be made at a higher level,” one of the people cited above said.

The people said the latest reports from the Japanese side indicated that Suga is not expected to visit the US. Earlier, Japan had proposed holding the Quad Summit in a hybrid format, with Suga joining virtually. There were also suggestions to hold the summit after the election of a new Japanese PM. It is learnt that not all Quad members were keen on holding the summit in a hybrid format.

Asked about the possibility of the political developments in Japan affecting the Quad Summit, foreign secretary Harsh Shringla told reporters in Washington on Friday: “If there is a summit, Prime Minister Modi has already said he would be happy to attend that summit. I think other leaders have also said they will be ready. So, it’s all a question of...getting the leaders together and going ahead.”

The Quad comprises India, Australia, Japan and the US. Australian PM Scott Morrison is expected to travel to the US in September to join Biden for events commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Australia, New Zealand and US Security Treaty, or ANZUS Treaty.