If elected, will bolster ties with India: Biden

DEMOCRATIC presidential candidate and former US vice-president 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 vice president said that India and the United States were natural partners.

‘That partnership, a strategic partnership, is necessary and important in our security,’ Biden said when asked by an attendee whether India is critical to the US’ national security. Referring to his eight years as the vice president, 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, which is a big deal’.

‘Helping open the door to great progress in our relationship and strengthening our strategic partnership with India was a high priority in the Obama-Biden administration and will be a high priority if I’m elected president,’ Biden said.

Both as the vice president and a Senator from Delaware, Biden was a big supporter of India-US relationship. About the November polls, Biden, 77, said that the character of the country is on the ballot. The upcoming election is the most important poll of a lifetime and that the country is currently engaged in a battle for its soul, he said.

Biden also slammed president Trump and his administration over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Biden has said he will not hold presidential campaign rallies during the coronavirus pandemic in the country. ‘Trump ignored warnings from the very beginning, refused to prepare and failed to protect the country. Not just now but throughout his presidency, undermining the very core pillars of ours, what I would argue, moral and economic strength.