INDIA-US HOLD BILATERAL TALKS TO STRENGTHEN STRATEGIC TIES

With External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar engaging the European Union (EU) during his visit to Europe and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla holding bilateral talks in Washington, India continues to strengthens strategic ties with the West despite the American debacle in Afghanistan.

MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted on Saturday, “Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla had a very useful exchange with Jon Finer, Principal Deputy NSA @WHNSC on further consolidating the strategic partnership. They reviewed regional developments, including the situation in Afghanistan and Indo-Pacific region.”

The Indian Embassy in Washington also tweeted, “Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla met (Under Secretary of Defense for Policy) @DOD_Policy Colin Kahl and discussed ways to advance strategic and defense partnerships”.

Meanwhile EAM Jaishankar addressed the informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council earlier on Friday which was attended by EU Foreign Ministers, a format known as the Gymnich meeting during which the situation in Afghanistan, the scenario in the Indo-Pacific region apart from India—EU ties were discussed. He had been invited to attend the meeting by the EU Presidency Slovenia which he visited. “Addressed the #Gymnich meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Bled, Slovenia. Lively discussion on IndoPacific, Afghanistan and India-EU ties,” the EAM had tweeted late on Friday night.

EAM JAISHANKAR addressed the informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs

Council earlier on Friday.