India, US ties critical for regional security: Blinken
US secretary of state holds wide-ranging talks on Afghanistan, Covid-19 response and regional security with Jaishankar
NEW DELHI: In reflection of growing bilateral ties between India and the US, external affairs minister S Jaishankar and US secretary of state Antony Blinken on Wednesday held wide-ranging talks covering the situation in Afghanistan, Indo-pacific engagements, Covid-19 response mechanism and ways to strengthen regional security.
At a joint media briefing, Blinken said there are few relationships in the world that are more vital than the one between the US and India.
At the same time, he said as the world’s leading democracies, “we take seriously our responsibilities” towards freedom, equality and opportunity to all of “our people”. But he added that “we know that we must constantly do more on these fronts, and neither of us has achieved the ideals that we set for ourselves”.
Democracies should “always seek to strengthen our democratic institutions, expand access to justice and opportunity, stand up forcefully for fundamental freedoms,” Blinken said.
He said actions by India and the US shape the 21st century and beyond, and that is why strengthening partnership with India is one of the top foreign policy priorities of the US.
Blinken also announced that the US will provide $25 million assistance to support Covid-19 vaccination efforts across India.
“US has contributed more than $200 million worth of Covid-19 assistance. I am pleased to announce that the United States government will send additional $25 million to support vaccination efforts across India,” Blinken announced during a joint press conference.