New Delhi (NVI): An introductory phone call between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his US counterpart and newly appointed Secretary of State, Antony J Blinken will take place soon, the Ministry of External Affairs said today.
“It will be an important opportunity to discuss the bilateral as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest,” MEA said in a statement, adding that EAM has already congratulated his counterpart, Antony J. Blinken, on his appointment as Secretary of State.
MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava, during the weekly press briefing today, said that as a new US administration takes shape, India continues to remain engaged at all levels to work together to further strengthen comprehensive global strategic partnership with America.
The Ministry further said that PM Modi has already congratulated President Joe Biden on his election as 46th US President on 8 November. “They had a telephone call on 17 November where they exchanged views on working together on shared priorities and global challenges,” MEA said
Apart from that, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also had an introductory phone call with the new Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin yesterday. They reiterated the commitment to deepen ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries.
NSA Ajit Doval also spoke to his counterpart, Jake Sullivan, yesterday and conveyed his good wishes on his appointment, it said.
-ARK
