Jaishankar, Blinken reaffirm partnership

External affairs minister S Jaishankar spoke to his new US counterpart Antony Blinken on Friday, with the two leaders pledging to expand strategic partnership and working for peace and security in the Indo-pacific. Jaishankar described the introductory phone call with Blinken as a “warm conversation”, and said they discussed the efforts of the two sides to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. This is the latest in talks between top officials of the two countries since the administration led by President Joe Biden took over. US defence secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to defence minister Rajnath Singh earlier this week. Jaishankar and Blinken on Friday “expressed their commitment to consolidate and expand the multi-faceted strategic partnership”, the external affairs ministry said.