Washington/New Delhi, Oct 2 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during which they discussed deepening bilateral cooperation, the escalating situation in West Asia, and the recent developments in the Indian subcontinent, the Indo-Pacific and Ukraine.
In a post on X, the EAM said the two also followed up on the meetings between PM Modi and US President Biden as well as the Quad Summit held last month in Delaware.
“Delighted to hold talks with @SecBlinken today in Washington DC.
“We followed up on the Delaware bilateral and Quad meetings. Our discussions also covered deepening bilateral cooperation, situation in West Asia, recent developments in the Indian subcontinent, the Indo-Pacific and Ukraine.”
Ahead of their meeting, US Secretary of State Blinken said: “…let me say what a pleasure it is to welcome my friend here. I think we’ve seen, just in recent weeks once again, the incredible vibrancy, strength behind the partnership that joins the United States and India. We had Prime Minister Modi here and actually in Wilmington, Delaware for the Quad meeting as well as a bilateral meeting with President Biden.
“The warmth of that meeting, the ambition in the relationship, is at a level we’ve never seen before. And I think it’s a reflection of the value that both countries attach to this partnership – a partnership in so many different areas, including strategic technology sectors, including space, including semiconductors, including clean energy, where our countries increasingly are working together and creating new opportunities for people in both India and the United States but also more broadly than that around the world.
“And of course, the critical role that India plays on the global stage, working for peace, working for stability, working for security – here as well we’re doing more and more together.
“So coming off of the UN General Assembly, coming off of the meetings that we had with the Quad and bilaterally, this is a good opportunity for us to take stock of the many issues that we’re working together – working together in a way that betters the lives of our own people and I think makes a positive contribution to the world.”
US President Joe Biden hosted PM Modi at his Delaware residence for a bilateral meeting on September 21. They were later joined by leaders from Australia and Japan for the QUAD Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware.
According to US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, during the meeting between EAM and Blinken they “discussed the United States and India’s enduring commitment to deepening bilateral ties, coordinating closely on regional and global challenges, and advancing cooperation on critical and emerging technologies. Secretary Blinken noted Prime Minister Modi’s August visit to Kyiv and reiterated the importance of a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. The Secretary and External Affairs Minister also discussed plans to expand collaboration on clean energy initiatives to address the global climate crisis.”
