Jaishankar meets Blinkan amid China-US tension, discusses Lanka, ASEAN

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh on Thursday. The meeting is taking place at a time when US-China tensions have increased over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.

In his opening remarks at the meeting, which took place during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Blinken mentioned “challenges” in Sri Lanka, Myanmar and concerns over the situation in the Indo-Pacific.

Warm talks to start meetings on the sidelines of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Phnom Penh. Jaishankar tweeted with US Secretary of State @SecBlinken to discuss strengthening India-US relations and the global situation.

Warm talks to start meetings on the sidelines of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Phnom Penh.

Discussed with US Secretary of State @SecBlinken on continuing to strengthen India-US relations and the global situation. pic.twitter.com/JzcrBSklx4

– Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 4, 2022

According to the US State Department, Blinken said that the US and India are strong supporters of ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific. “We are both strong supporters of ASEAN centrality. Together we have a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, which we work on in so many different ways every day,” Blinken said.

“And of course, to include the situation in Sri Lanka, Burma and many other hot spots, we have some immediate challenges that concern both of us,” he said. “So I look forward to being able to go through many of the issues with my friend once again, and then we’ll both move on to our meetings.”

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Jaishankar and Blinken “exchanged views on global and regional issues, including Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine and its impact on food insecurity around the world”.

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critical moment meeting

At a time when China’s response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan is being looked into, Jaishankar’s meeting with Blinken and other ASEAN foreign ministers assumes significance. India has seen the development so far and has not commented. What Beijing does and says will be carefully monitored in Delhi.

India has so far sought to maintain a diplomatic balance between Russia and the US-led West over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While it has expressed concern over the killings in Buka, it has stopped condemning Moscow’s actions.

Price said, “They discussed Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and emphasized that both countries stand with the people of Sri Lanka and support their aspirations for a return to economic and political stability through democratic and constitutional processes.” Huh.”

Jaishankar also met Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabri.

He later tweeted, “First warm meeting with FM Ali Sabri of Sri Lanka. Congratulates him on his new responsibility. As a trusted friend and trusted partner, India’s commitment to economic recovery and well-being of Sri Lanka Confirmed. Neighborhood First.”

First warm meeting with FM Ali Sabri of Sri Lanka. Congratulations to him on his new responsibility.

As a trusted friend and trusted partner, reaffirmed India’s commitment to economic recovery and the well-being of Sri Lanka.

Neighborhood first. pic.twitter.com/qTCtmFm89h

– Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 4, 2022

India has so far provided nearly $4 billion in economic and humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka, as it grapples with its worst economic crisis since 1948.

On the Jaishankar-Blinken meeting, the US spokesperson also said, “Secretary Blinken condemned the executions of democracy activists by the Burmese military regime, and he promoted accountability for the regime’s atrocities, as well as putting Burma on the path to democracy.” Discussed our collective efforts to bring it back. , They also noted our shared efforts to promote a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

India has expressed “deep concern” over the recent executions, but has so far not strongly condemned Myanmar’s regime over these latest actions.

Jaishankar, who attended the India-ASEAN ministerial meeting, said India and the Group of 10 countries have a “strong convergence” on the Indo-Pacific, countering the threat of terrorism, and development in Ukraine and Myanmar.

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He said that India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also share similar views on issues related to connectivity projects, tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and cyber security.

The minister identified the digital domain, health, agriculture, education and green development as the sectors that drive the partnership between the two sides. “Digital, health, agricultural education and green development will drive our partnership forward. Act East unfolds fast,” he tweeted.

The India-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue focused on overall development in the Indo-Pacific region and ways to take the relationship forward against the backdrop of geopolitical developments, including the crisis in Ukraine. The foreign ministers also discussed the situation in the South China Sea, which is witnessing aggressive behavior by China.

5 August, 2022, 4:15 am