US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to hold talks with EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi today

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will hold talks with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi today. Both sides will review the robust and multi-faceted India-US bilateral relations and potential for consolidating them further. Discussions will focus on regional and global issues of mutual interest including recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indo-Pacific region, Afghanistan and cooperation in the United Nations.

Secretary Blinken arrived in New Delhi last evening on a two- day visit to India. This is his first visit to India after assuming charge as US Secretary of State. He will also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.He will also meet National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

The US Secretary of State's visit is an opportunity to continue the high-level bilateral dialogue and bolster the India-US global strategic partnership.

Both sides will review the robust and multi-faceted India-US bilateral relations and potential for consolidating them further. AIR correspondent reports that Secretary Blinken's visit is an opportunity to further consolidate bilateral cooperation across a vast agenda. Issues like augmenting trade and investment and tapping opportunities in health care, education, digital domain, innovation and security, will be important elements of the conversation.

In the defence domain, both sides are expected to explore ways and means to deepen their collaboration. This will cover policy exchanges, exercises, and defence transfers and technologies.

These will be covered in greater detail during the fourth 22 Ministerial Dialogue due in the US later this year. Discussions will cover containment of COVID-19 and COVID recovery efforts. India is likely to press for gradual resumption of international travel, while maintaining health protocols, especially easing mobility of students, professionals, business travellers, family reunions, humanitarian cases.