Explained: Why US readout on Modi-Biden call omitted Bangladesh crisis
The recent telephonic conversation between United States President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sparked speculation due to a notable omission. The official US readout of the discussion did not mention the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh, a topic that was highlighted in India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement. This discrepancy has fueled speculations about potential strains in the relationship between Washington and Dhaka. Here's what happened.
Why does this story matter?
Since the unrest in Bangladesh led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina and her government, the US response has been notably subdued. Amid these events, Bangladeshi media released excerpts from Hasina's undelivered speech, in which she accused the US of pressuring her to permit the establishment of a naval base on St Martin's Island. Hasina claimed that if she had conceded the island her government would have survived.
Modi-Biden call: What did both the readouts say?
Following their phone call, both sides released statements about the conversation between the two world leaders. New Delhi's statement indicated that PM Modi and Biden discussed the situation in Ukraine, as well as the situation in Bangladesh and its ongoing unrest. While the White House statement noted that Biden praised Modi's recent visit to Poland and Ukraine, with both leaders reaffirming their support for a peaceful resolution of the conflict based on international law and the UN Charter.
Observers, opposition raise questions on US's readout
After the readouts were released, observers noted the US's silence on the issue of Bangladesh. Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned, "Why does the press release from the White House not mention Bangladesh while our press note does?" He also asked in another post, "If our prime minister did raise the issue of 'safety and security of the minorities, particularly Hindus' in Bangladesh, why did Joe Biden not think it was important enough to mention in his press note?"
Issue gains traction on social media
Derek J Grossman, a senior defense analyst at RAND Corporation, also highlighted the discrepancy in the readouts, posting on X, "Washington neglects to mention Bangladesh." As the issue gained traction on social media, Kanchan Gupta, a government advisor, addressed the situation. In a post on X, he stated, "Congress media head Pawan Khera's comments regarding Government of India's press release on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tele-conversation with President Biden on Monday are completely misplaced."
'Separate press releases are a common practice...'
"It is a common practice for separate press releases to be issued following conversations, which may or may not reflect all issues discussed. It is only when there is a joint press release or joint statement that both sides issue similar press releases," he added. "To say that any issue that may be missing in either of the press releases was not discussed is inaccurate and avoidable," Gupta said.
What do experts say
While the Indian side has attempted to downplay the issue, some experts believe there may be deeper implications. Geopolitical analysts suggest the US readout reflects growing discomfort with Bangladesh, indicating a possible divergence between Washington and India on the situation. Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, suggested that the US focus on Modi's recent Ukraine visit might explain the omission of Bangladesh from their statement, as it may not have seemed as pressing.
