S Jaishankar Meets Blinken: As Secretary of State Antony Blinken and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met here, amid a simmering diplomatic dispute between India and Canada over the assassination of a Khalistani rebel, they decided to maintain their collaboration in the fields of military, space, and clean energy.
S Jaishankar and Blinken Lay the Groundwork for Upcoming 2+2 Meeting
Jaishankar is now in Washington, DC, on a five-day business trip. Following the recent G-20 Summit in New Delhi, this is the two countries’ highest-level meeting to date. “Great to meet my friend US Secretary of State @SecBlinken at State Department today. A wide ranging discussion, following up on PM @narendramodi’s June visit. Also exchanged notes on global developments. Laid the groundwork of our 2+2 meeting very soon,” he posted on X on Friday. The two top diplomats “discussed a full range of issues, including key outcomes of India’s G20 presidency, and the creation of India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and its potential to generate transparent, sustainable, and high-standard infrastructure investments,” State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
S Jaishankar and Blinken Emphasize Defense, Space, and Clean Energy Ahead of 2+2 Dialogue
“The Secretary and the External Affairs Minister also emphasised the continued importance of cooperation ahead of the upcoming 2+2 Dialogue, in particular in the areas of defence, space, and clean energy,” Miller said in a statement after the meeting. Jaishankar stated on Thursday that the sixth meeting of the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue will take place in New Delhi. He withheld the meeting’s dates, although it is understood that the ministerial conversation will take place in the first part of November.
Key Leaders to Represent India and the US in High-Level Talks
Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin would represent the US delegation. The Indian team will be led by Rajnath Singh, the defence minister, and Jaishankar. Jaishankar greeted Blinken at the State Department’s Foggy Bottom offices and said, “I actually look forward to seeing you in Delhi for the 2+2.” On April 11, the most recent 2+2 ministerial was conducted in Washington, DC. The first 2+2 ministerial, which was initiated under the previous Trump administration, took place on September 6, 2018, in New Delhi.
S Jaishankar Highlights India-US Tech Collaboration and Supply Chain Resilience in Discussion
“Focused discussion on India-US collaboration on critical and emerging tech and creating resilient supply chains at discussion convened by @USISPForum,” Jaishankar said in another post on social media platform X. “Glad to know that India is the major talking point in corporate boardrooms. Our collaboration offers more possibilities with each passing day,” he said. The diplomatic dispute between India and Canada over the execution of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia at the start of this year was not discussed by the two sides’ representatives directly or indirectly.
Diplomatic Meeting Conceals India-Canada Disagreement Over Sikh Separatist’s Killing
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met. The two parties kept their disagreement over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar between India and Canada diplomatically under wraps as they discussed their bilateral relations. The murder of Nijjar on June 18 is allegedly being covered up by the Indian government, according to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In 2020, India deemed Nijjar to be a terrorist. The claims made by Canada have been deemed “absurd” and “motivated” by India. When asked about the dispute by reporters, Secretary Blinken declined to comment.
Warm Welcome and Positive Mood as Blinken Greets Jaishankar at State Department
“It’s a pleasure to welcome my friend and colleague, Foreign Minister Jaishankar, here to the State Department, back to Washington. We’ve had very good discussions over the last weeks – of course at the G20, in New York at the General Assembly – and I’m looking forward to pursuing them this afternoon,” Blinken said welcoming Jaishankar at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department. Prior to their bilateral meeting on Thursday, the two top diplomats posed for pictures with the media in the State Department’s Treaty Room while grinning and in a good mood.
S Jaishankar Expresses Gratitude for US Support, Continues High-Level Meetings in Washington
“Good to be back here, and we, of course, had the prime minister here this summer. We thank the US for all the support at the G20 summit,” Jaishankar said in his brief remarks. The two presidents left for the bilateral meeting shortly after that. Jaishankar, who spoke at the United Nations’ 78th General Assembly session on Tuesday before travelling here from New York on Wednesday, met with top Biden administration officials on Thursday. He went to the White House in the morning to meet with Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser. A readout of the meeting was not released by the White House.
S Jaishankar Continues High-Level Talks, Emphasizing Progress in Bilateral Relationship
“Recognized the tremendous progress in our bilateral relationship this year and discussed taking it forward,” the minister posted on X. Jaishankar visited US Trade Representative Katherine Tai following a meeting with representatives of Washington, DC-based research tanks. “Spoke about our expanding trade and economic relationship and its broader significance,” he wrote on X. “Today I met with” Jaishankar “to discuss the positive momentum of the U.S.-India trade relationship, and opportunities to collaborate on WTO reform and IPEF negotiations,” Tai said. Jaishankar spoke openly and productively throughout his sessions with the think tanks. “Discussed transformations underway around the world and India’s growing role,” he said. Jaishankar will speak at the esteemed Hudson Institute think tank on Friday about “India’s Role in the World Today.”
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