India-US agreed to work closely on multilateral and global issues

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday held a meeting in New Delhi. Later in a media briefing, Dr Jaishankar said, the meeting with Secretary Blinken takes place at important juncture when key global, regional challenges need to be effectively addressed. He said, in the discussions, both sides focused on expanding vaccine production to make it globally affordable and accessible. He acknowledged responsiveness of Biden administration to keeping the raw material supply chains open for vaccine production in India and thanked for the support India received during COVID second wave from US. The External Affairs Minister said, the bilateral ties have enhanced to a level that enables both sides to deal collaboratively with larger issues. On a media query on Chinese criticism to Quad, Dr Jaishankar said, groups of countries working together is not strange and BRICS is one such example.

Blinken said, Our bilateral ties enhanced to a level that enables us to deal collaboratively with larger issue. He said, Defence Secy Austin and he look forward to hosting the Indian counterparts later this year for the 22 dialogue. He said, both sides discussed regional security issues including Afghanistan. The US Secretary of State said, India and US share strong interest in peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan. He said, as a credible partner in the region, India has and will continue to make vital contribution to Afghanistan’s stability and development. Blinken said, even as US withdraw its forces from Afghanistan, it remain engaged in Afghanistan. 

Replying to a question on QUAD, Blinken said, four like-minded countries coming together to work on some of the most important issues of time that are going to have real impact on the lives of the people and do in a way that ensures a free and open Indo-Pacific. He said, Quad is not a military alliance. Blinken said, our shared values strengthen the US and India relationship. He said, like our own, India’s democracy is powered by its free thinking citizens. The US Secretary of State said, we view Indian democracy as a force for good in defence of a free and open Indo-Pacific and a free and open world.

Later in the evening Blinken met with prime minister Narendra Modi. In a tweet PM Modi, during the meeting, welcome President Biden's strong commitment to strengthen the India-US Strategic Partnership.

Good to meet US Secretary of State @SecBlinken today. I welcome President Biden's strong commitment to strengthen the India-US Strategic Partnership, which is anchored in our shared democratic values and is a force for global good. pic.twitter.com/HlNqKVTM95

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 28, 2021

Blinken also had a meeting with NSA Ajit Doval. Both discussed a renge of issues.