External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with his counterpart Antony Blinken on Friday, thanking the Biden administration for its “strong support and solidarity” with India at a time of “great difficulties” in combatting the deadly COVID-19 outbreak.
Mr. Jaishankar is the first Indian Cabinet minister to visit the United States since Joe Biden took office as US President on January 20.
Mr. Blinken stated that India was there for the US in the early days of COVID-19, which the country “will never forget.”
“We want to make sure that we’re there for and with India now,” he added.
Mr. Jaishankar told reporters here at the State Department, “We have a lot to talk about. I believe our relationships have become stronger over time, and I am optimistic that they will continue to do so. I’d want to convey our thanks to the government and the United States for their tremendous support and solidarity at this difficult time for us.”
Mr. Blinken stated that the United States and India are collaborating on many crucial concerns of “our time.”
“We are working together to combat COVID-19,” he stated.
“The cooperation between the United States and India is crucial, robust, and I believe it is becoming more fruitful,” Mr. Blinken continued.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Jaishankar met with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, during which they discussed further deepening the two nations’ strategic and defense alliance and exchanged views on “current security concerns.”
“A cordial meeting with the United States’ @SecDef Lloyd Austin. A detailed discussion on how to strengthen our strategic and defense alliance, “Following the meeting, he posted a photo of them together.
Mr. Jaishankar went on to say that they discussed “current security problems.”
The two presidents are scheduled to talk about the situation in the critical Indo-Pacific region, where China has been flexing its military capabilities more recently.
