India, US reaffirm the strength of strategic partnership between two countries; EAM S Jaishankar says people-to-people ties are at heart of this relationship

 

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio today held wide-ranging discussions in New Delhi.

 

Both leaders reaffirmed the strength of the India-US strategic partnership and outlined key areas of cooperation, including trade, energy, mobility and regional security.

 

Dr Jaishankar said India and the US share a comprehensive global strategic partnership with deep and broad-based cooperation. He said both countries’ ties impact and influence the world and that they have converging interests across several regions.

 

He noted that discussions took place in a complex global environment and expressed confidence in open and productive talks.

 

He also highlighted the need to conclude a trade agreement at the earliest, welcomed the expansion in energy trade, and stressed that diversified energy supplies are vital for India’s energy security. 

 

 

Dr Jaishankar also underlined the importance of people-to-people ties and said legal mobility should not be adversely affected. India’s position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy, as well as safe and unimpeded maritime commerce, was also reiterated.

 

On the Iran conflict, Mr Jaishankar said that both India and the United States have a strong interest in ensuring that global energy prices remain low and that there is unimpeded commerce.

 

 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, strongly underscored the strategic dimension of the partnership, describing India as one of the United States’ most important partners in the world.

 

He said both countries have suffered due to terrorism and added that India and the US are strategically aligned on all key issues that will define the new century.

 

 

Secretary Rubio further said the two countries are also strategically aligned on energy. Responding to a question, he said the United States is modernising its immigration system for the 21st century.

 

Responding to a question on Iran, he said there is good news on that front and indicated that further positive developments are expected in the next few hours.

 

The leaders also discussed regional issues, including developments in the Gulf and the Indo-Pacific ahead of the upcoming Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

 

Earlier in the opening remark, Mr Jaishankar said that India and the United States share a comprehensive global strategic partnership marked by deep and broad-based cooperation.

 

The External Affairs Minister said that the relationship between India and the US impacts and influences not only the two countries, but also other regions and the wider world.

 

He said both nations have converging interests on many issues and across several parts of the world. Dr Jaishankar added that these are complicated times, but expressed confidence that the two sides will have open and productive discussions.

 

 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India yesterday on a four-day visit to participate in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which will be held on the 26th of this month.

 

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will participate in the meeting.

 

The leaders are expected to exchange views on advancing Quad cooperation across priority areas and review progress on ongoing initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region and other issues of mutual concern.