External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has begun his official visit to the US, commencing Day 1 by attending several high-level meetings.
Dr. Jaishankar, who arrived for the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, initiated his visit with discussions on defending the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific with his Quad colleagues. He also chaired various foreign ministers’ level bilateral meetings.
On the first day of his visit, EAM Dr. Jaishankar met the Foreign Ministers of Japan, Australia, and Bahrain. He also had a productive IBSA meeting with Foreign Ministers Mauro Vieira and Naledi Pandor. Additionally, he took stock of the India-UK relationship with UK Minister of State for Foreign Commonwealth & Development Affairs (South Asia, Middle East, North Africa, UN, Human Rights), Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon.
Speaking about the meeting with his Australian counterpart, the EAM said, “Great to catch up with FM Senator Wong of Australia on #UNGA78 sidelines. Noted the positive trajectory of our ties and discussed specific steps to take them further. Our exchange of regional and global assessments is always valuable.”
Further elaborating on the other programs and events lined up during the visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “In keeping with India’s support for the Global South, EAM will be hosting a special event ‘India-UN for Global South: Delivering for Development’. During the visit, EAM would attend various plurilateral and bilateral meetings. EAM will also meet the UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Dennis Francis, President of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly.”
Additionally, the Ministry informed, “EAM’s address at the High-Level Session of the 78th United Nations General Assembly is scheduled for the forenoon of September 26.”
All you need to know about EAM Jaishankar’s visit to Washington D.C.
For the last leg of his visit, from New York, EAM Dr. Jaishankar will then travel to Washington D.C. for a three-day visit (September 27-30). His schedule for the three-day visit includes, among other things, discussions with his US counterpart Antony Blinken, senior members of the US Administration, US business leaders, and think tanks.
The leaders had last met in July in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, where their discussion focused on Ukraine, Myanmar, and the Indo-Pacific. However, while the specific discussion topic during this meeting remains undisclosed, experts believe the ongoing diplomatic standoff between India and Canada may dominate the deliberations.
Earlier, in response to a question about the India-Canada row, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “We have been consulting very closely with our Canadian colleagues and coordinating with them on this issue. From our perspective, it is critical that the Canadian investigation proceed. It is important that India works with the Canadians on this investigation. We want to see accountability, and it’s important that the investigation runs its course and leads to that result…We have been engaged directly with the Indian government as well.”
Furthermore, during the visit to Washington D.C., EAM Dr. Jaishankar will also address the 4th World Culture Festival being organized by the Art of Living.
