Joe Biden

Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Irani addressed the first ever G20 Ministerial Conference, which was held in Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy in a hybrid format. She reaffirmed India's commitment towards addressing gender and women centric issues through mutual cooperation. The minister highlighted the various initiatives undertaken in India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government towards fostering gender equality, ensuring better healthcare and strengthening women's safety and security.

Biden, who has faced international and domestic pressure to share the surplus vaccines, said he was releasing the first set of 25 million doses of which six million will be distributed between India, South Korea, Mexico and Canada. The six million "will be shared directly with countries experiencing surges, those in crisis, and other partners and neighbours", he said without a breakdown of how many will go to India.

The PMO said the two leaders discussed the Covid-19 situation in their countries, including India's ongoing efforts to contain the second wave "through expedited vaccination efforts, and ensuring supply of critical medicines, therapeutics and healthcare equipment".

While Biden during his election campaign bragged about his instrumental role in the India-US nuclear deal and overall support for the India-US partnership under the former Barack Obama administration, Blinken's view on India is apparent from the positions he assumed through his long career in Washington D.C.