During their meeting at the esteemed Munich Security Conference, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar engaged in fruitful discussions with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, delving into crucial bilateral concerns and global affairs spanning West Asia, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific region. Blinken underscored the robust nature of the bilateral relationship between the two nations, emphasizing its remarkable growth in recent years.
The rendezvous between Jaishankar and Blinken, occurring on the sidelines of the 60th edition of the conference, preceded their joint participation in a panel discussion titled ‘Growing the Pie: Seizing Shared Opportunities,’ scheduled for the following day.
This diplomatic encounter followed closely on the heels of the US's commitment to provide India with 31 armed MQ-9B Predator drones and occurred against the backdrop of tensions stemming from allegations of a conspiracy to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. India promptly formed a high-level committee to probe the accusations leveled by the US.
Expressing delight at their rendezvous, Jaishankar shared his sentiments on social media, highlighting the focus of their dialogue on pressing issues across different regions. He also shared a snapshot of their meeting, depicting both leaders seated across a table, flanked by officials from their respective delegations.
Echoing Jaishankar's sentiment, Blinken reiterated the strength of the partnership between the United States and India, characterizing it as one of the most significant relationships globally. He elaborated on the collaborative efforts underway to address various shared priorities, including bolstering mutual prosperity, promoting democratic values, combatting climate change, and upholding the rules-based international order.
Jaishankar emphasized the importance of effectively addressing complex issues to prevent escalation of conflicts. He acknowledged the necessity of addressing a myriad of challenges spanning the Indo-Pacific and other regions.
In his closing remarks, Blinken emphasized the ongoing nature of their collaborative efforts, emphasizing the need for continual engagement to navigate the array of challenges confronting both nations regionally and globally. This sentiment encapsulated the essence of their meeting and underscored the enduring partnership between India and the United States.
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