Biden hails Dr Singh’s role in strengthening US-India ties

San Francisco, United Nations, PTI: Mourning the passing of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, US President Joe Biden has called him “a true statesman” and credited his strategic vision and political courage for the unprecedented level of bilateral cooperation. "The unprecedented level of cooperation between the United States and India today would not have been possible without the Prime Minister's strategic vision and political courage,” Biden said in a statement as he and the First Lady, Jill Biden, joined the people of India in grieving the loss of the former prime minister.

“From forging the USIndia Civil Nuclear Agreement to helping launch the first Quad between Indo-Pacific partners, he charted path-breaking progress that will continue to strengthen our nations— and the world—for generations to come. He was a true statesman. A dedicated public servant. And above all, he was a kind and humble person,” Biden said. The outgoing US President said he had the chance to meet Prime Minister Singh as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2008 and as Vice President during his Official State Visit to the United States in 2009. “He also graciously hosted me in New Delhi in 2013. As we discussed then, the US-India relationship is among the most consequential in the world. And together, as partners and friends, our nations can unlock a future of dignity and unlimited potential for all of our people,” Biden said. “During this difficult time, we recommit to this vision to which Prime Minister Singh dedicated his life. And Jill and I send our deepest condolences to former First Lady Gursharan Kaur, their three children, and all the people of India,” Biden said.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh was a great leader who helped to put US-India relations on a "fundamentally new footing" with the landmark Civilian Nuclear Agreement between the two nations, former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said. “I am very saddened to learn of the passing of India's former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh – a great man and a great leader who helped to put US-Indian relations on a fundamentally new footing with the landmark US-India Civilian Nuclear Agreement of 2008,” Rice said in a post on X on Friday.

Rice, 70, was Secretary of State from 2005 to 2009 and before that, she served as the National Security Advisor from 2001 to 2005, both under the then President George W Bush. Those eight years are seen as years that transformed the India-US relationship, in particular the landmark civil nuclear deal that was initiated jointly by Singh and Bush.

Guterres saddened by death of Manmohan Singh

UN chief Antonio Guterres is saddened by the death of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who played a "pivotal role" in shaping the nation's "economic trajectory". The Secretary-General expressed his "deep" condolences to Singh's family, the government, and the people of India. Expressing condolences following Singh's death, Guterres notes the former prime minister's contributions to India and the UN.

"The Secretary-General was saddened to learn of the passing of Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India. Singh played a pivotal role in India's recent history, particularly in shaping its economic trajectory," a statement issued by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary- General, said.