The US values its relations with India and strengthens ties with a greet and meet policies. However, meetings at the G-20 Summit diverged critically.

Although US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a hospitable meeting in Bali, official narratives about their discussion at the G-20 Summit diverged significantly. A public statement clubbing Prime Minister Modi with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Sultan (MBS) and other autocrats signalled a distancing between the two leaderships.

On November 18^th, the US State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson, Vedant Patel, replied to a question on why the US had granted sovereign immunity from criminal prosecution to MBS, whom US intelligence agencies believe to be involved in the murder of a US-based journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. Patel stated that this was a legal determination as all state heads are given such legal immunity without going into the merits of the case. The Saudi King had named MBS Prime Minister, a title the king still holds.

Referring to previous instances of similar immunity applications, Vedant Patel stated it is a longstanding and consistent effort line. It has been applied to many state heads previously. This is a consistent practice afforded to state heads, government heads, and foreign ministers. The US official was flagging the nine-year visa ban on the Prime Minister from 2005 to 2014 as his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat communal riots.

The divergent official accounts of the aspect between the two leaders in Bali suggest a realignment in the relationship. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs reported the Biden-Modi meeting, reviewing the continuing strengthening of the India-US strategic partnership, including cooperation in future-oriented sectors such as critical and emerging technologies, advanced computing, artificial intelligence, etc. On November 21^st, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded that the president's greeting and meeting with the prime minister is an important relationship that countries respect.

President Trump and Prime Minister Modi both have conservative and regressive political constituencies, but President Joe Biden understands that his future lies with progressive forces in America, particularly young people and women. Defying traditional wisdom that the ruling dispensation always loses, the Democrats did not cede to the Republicans during the mid-term congressional elections. Despite Delhi's unwillingness to completely follow Washington's orders, there can be little doubt that the US cherishes its strategic and diplomatic connections with that country.