New Delhi: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has arrived in New Delhi to co-chair the fifth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, met Exterior Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Friday and held talks. It could be famous that Blinken and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin are in Delhi for the fifth version of the ‘2+2’ overseas and defence ministerial dialogue which is geared toward taking ahead India-US futuristic roadmap for deeper strategic cooperation. The Indian delegation on the talks can be led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Jaishankar.
#WATCH | Delhi: US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken meets Exterior Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar for the fifth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. pic.twitter.com/E2cc5FpmFG
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2023
Welcoming the highest US official, EAM Jaishankar stated, “We had a really profitable G20 Summit in September, and I do need to thanks, the US authorities and President Biden on behalf of Prime Minister Modi, as a result of I feel with out the sturdy help which the US gave us, I do not assume we might have gotten the consensus and the outcomes that we did…”
#WATCH | Delhi: Exterior Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says “We had a really profitable G20 Summit in September, and I do need to thanks, the US authorities and President Biden on behalf of Prime Minister Modi, as a result of I feel with out the sturdy help which the US gave us, I… pic.twitter.com/3S3ZdquYad
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2023
Jaishanra added, “…This go to (of Secretary Blinken) has a selected significance as a result of we have to comply with up on PM Modi’s June go to and President Biden’s September go to. It is a 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, so we take a broader view of what we’re doing. As QUAD members, we are going to talk about the Indo-Pacific and eventually, we are going to have a look at the worldwide regional points and what’s taking place in West Asia and Center-East as it’s a massive concern proper now. I sit up for discussing it and different points with you.”
In his flip, Blinken stated, “It’s all the time fantastic to be right here in India. We’re constructing a exceptional yr of engagement…We now have not solely the strongest bilateral partnership we have ever had, but in addition a regional one, and certainly, a world one which was additional evidenced by India’s management for the G20 this yr. We now have so much to do, together with with our defence colleagues. I feel it is additional proof of our resolute focus for america on the Indo-Pacific, our area for the longer term, the longer term is definitely now, and we’re constructing it along with India…”
Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi earlier stated Blinken’s go to will give an extra increase to the India-US Complete International Strategic Partnership. “A heat welcome to U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken as he arrives in New Delhi to co-chair the fifth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. The go to will give an extra increase to the India-US Complete International Strategic Partnership!,” Bagchi wrote on ‘X’.
US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin additionally arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day go to to attend the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. He was obtained by his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh. Following his India go to, Austin can be travelling to Korea, and Indonesia as effectively. This can be his ninth go to to the Indo-Pacific.
Austin was additionally given a guard of honour as a mark of respect for visiting US Secretary of Defence. “Wheels up at @Andrews_JBA en path to India, the Republic of Korea and Indonesia,” the Defence Secretary posted on social media platform X (previously Twitter).
“My ninth go to to the Indo-Pacific comes because the US, together with our allies and companions, proceed to make historic progress towards a shared imaginative and prescient of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he added.
The US State Division’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel, whereas talking on Blinken’s go to to India, stated, “India is a rustic that we’ve got a deep partnership with. He (Blinken) can be going for the two+2 Ministerial Dialogue together with Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin. So I count on, in fact, that deepening this safety cooperation in partnership, can be, one of many many subjects which can be mentioned.”
“It was one thing that was clearly raised throughout Prime Minister Modi’s state go to earlier this yr. And I do know the secretary seems ahead to being there and in partaking immediately, together with his counterparts on this. However I’ll let the journey happen earlier than we speak extra about it,” he added.
fifth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue: What To Anticipate?
The dialogue will present a platform for top-level discussions between the US and India, addressing crucial bilateral and world issues, with particular emphasis on developments unfolding within the Indo-Pacific area.
Throughout his dialogue, Blinken and Defence Secretary Austin are anticipated to embody a large spectrum of points, together with strengthening bilateral relations, addressing world considerations, and selling cooperation within the Indo-Pacific.
The two+2 Ministerial Dialogue is a diplomatic summit held yearly since 2018, with the Minister of Exterior Affairs and the Defence Minister representing India and the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defence representing america. The discussions centre on widespread problems with concern between the 2 international locations.