Blinken meets Modi, Jaishankar, Doval
NEW DELHI, July 28:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today welcomed President Joe Biden’s strong commitment to strengthen the India-US strategic partnership during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“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,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
Blinken called on Modi after holding wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The talks covered a range of issues including the situation in Afghanistan, Indo-Pacific engagements and COVID-19 response mechanism among others.
Blinken also held talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval with a focus on taking the relationship to the “next level”.
The US Secretary of State arrived here on Tuesday evening on a two-day visit with an extensive agenda for talks.
This is Blinken’s first visit to India after assuming charge as the US Secretary of State and the third by a high-ranking Biden administration official after it came to power in January.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin visited India in March while US Special Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry travelled to New Delhi in April.
Earlier, Blinken met civil society leaders after which he said the US and India share a commitment to democratic values and it is part of the bedrock of the relationship.
“I was pleased to meet civil society leaders today. The US and India share a commitment to democratic values; this is part of the bedrock of our relationship and reflective of India’s pluralistic society and history of harmony. Civil society helps advance these values,” he tweeted.
It is Blinken’s first visit to India after assuming charge as the US Secretary of State and the third by a high-ranking Biden administration official after it came to power in January.
As Blinken arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday evening, the US State Department said the US supports India’s emergence as a leading global power and vital partner in efforts to ensure that the Indo-Pacific is a region of peace, stability, and growing prosperity and economic inclusion.
“India is a leading global power and a key U S Partner in the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” it said in a fact sheet on ties between the two countries. (PTI)
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