Despite perceived ideological differences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Vice-President Kamala Harris put on a pleasant face in front of the cameras during their first face-to-face encounter, promising to collaborate on global health, environmental, and security concerns. Meeting the challenges of climate change, Covid, and Indo-Pacific security through Quad were among the publicly mentioned areas for cooperation as the two principals talked in front of journalists for 15 minutes but took no questions.

Prime Minister Modi congratulated US Vice-President Kamala on her election victory in the United States and welcomed her to India to celebrate with Indians. He praised the new administration, adding that President Biden and she had taken over the country during a difficult moment and had achieved a lot in a short time.

He also addressed her work as the head of the United States Space Force, saying that it was a topic that piqued his attention as well and that the two countries should collaborate.

Harris also mentioned the dangers to democracy throughout the world and the necessity for all countries to work together to protect democracy at home and abroad, implying a condemnation of the fact that in both India and the United States, right-wing extremism is on the rise.

Modi claimed that while India and the United States are the world’s largest and oldest democracies, the two countries share ideas and that their coordination and collaboration is improving.

There will be no support for the conference in the United States, according to the organisers.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla told reporters following the hour-long discussion that both presidents agreed that their bilateral relationship is on a stable basis.

According to Harris, it is the responsibility of the two countries to safeguard democracies in the best interests of their citizens.