‘Bolstering India ties high priority’

Washington, July 2: Democratic presidential candidate and former US V-P Joe Biden has said that if he wins the November elections, strengthening America’s strategic relationship with its natural partner India will be a “high priority” for his administration. Biden is challenging incumbent President Donald Trump, a Republican, in the November 3 US presidential election.

“India needs to be a partner in the region for our safety’s sake and quite frankly for theirs,” Biden said in response to a question on the US-India relationship during a virtual fund raiser event on Wednesday.

At the fund raiser hosted by Chairman and CEO of Beacon Capital Partners Alan Leventhal, the former V-P said that India and the United States were natural partners.

“That partnership, a strategic partnership, is necessary and important in our security,” he said when asked by an attendee whether India is critical to the US’ national security. Referring to his eight years as the V-P, he said, “In our administration I was proud to play a role more than a decade ago in securing Congressional approval for the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, a big deal.”