External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in Washington DC to discuss the growing strategic partnership between India and the United States, with a focus on addressing regional and global challenges. This meeting marks S Jaishankar’s first visit to the US capital since the third Modi government took office. The talks, held at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the US State Department, come after the recent QUAD Leaders’ Summit and the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden in Delaware.
Following the meeting, Blinken expressed the importance of the US-India relationship, emphasizing cooperation on a wide range of issues. “Together, the US and India are working to address regional and global challenges. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and I met to discuss our continued cooperation on the climate crisis and ways we can promote regional security and prosperity,” Blinken stated.
S Jaishankar echoed these sentiments, highlighting the discussions on deepening bilateral cooperation and addressing global concerns such as the situation in West Asia, developments in the Indian subcontinent, the Indo-Pacific, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. He also referred to Prime Minister Modi’s bilateral talks with President Biden and the fruitful QUAD meetings.
The US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, elaborated on the key points discussed during the meeting, including both nations’ commitment to advancing cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, as well as their shared dedication to promoting a lasting peace in Ukraine. Additionally, clean energy initiatives and strategies to combat the global climate crisis were high on the agenda.
Blinken also reflected on the deepening ties between the two nations, emphasizing the warmth of the recent Biden-Modi meeting. He remarked that the ambition in the partnership had reached new heights, especially in areas like strategic technology, space, semiconductors, and clean energy. Blinken added that India’s role on the global stage, particularly in promoting peace, stability, and security, continues to expand in collaboration with the United States.
Earlier in the day, S Jaishankar participated in a discussion at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he reiterated the strong progress made through the QUAD mechanism and the productive bilateral ties between India and the US. Both leaders expressed optimism about continuing their efforts to address global challenges and enhance opportunities for the people of both nations.
