Jaishankar, US Secretary of State hold telephonic talks over close cooperation in Indo-Pacific

New Delhi, January 30: After defense minister, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held the telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. During the conversation, they discussed ways to expand India-US ties and increase close cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region.

 

EAM and Secretary Blinken also expressed their commitment to consolidate and expand the multi-faceted strategic partnership. Taking to the social media EAM Jaishankar tweeted, "Warm conversation with Secretary of State @SecBlinken. Congratulated him on his appointment. Look forward to working with him again. Agreed that we could build further on the solid foundation of our partnership. Also discussed our efforts at combating the COVID-19 pandemic."

 

 

 

 

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Jaishankar and Blinken appreciated the robust defense and security ties, growing economic engagement, productive healthcare collaboration, and strong people-to-people linkages between the two nations. In a tweet, Blinken said he was delighted to speak to Jaishankar and that they discussed ways to seize new opportunities and combat shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. 

 

The MEA said Jaishankar and Blinken agreed to work together to address global issues, including safe and affordable vaccine supply while recognizing the challenges of a post-Covid world. "The external affairs minister and Secretary Blinken expressed their commitment to consolidate and expand the multi-faceted strategic partnership," it said.

 

 

 

 

 

Besides this, Jaishankar and Blinken also reiterated their commitment to peace and security, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. Earlier, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan holding a telephonic conversation with their Indian counterparts, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and NSA Ajit Doval. These phone calls were the first high-level engagement between the Government of India and the Joe Biden administration.

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