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Dr Jaishankar to visit US from Monday, 2+2 Dialogue and vaccines on agenda

Sat, 22 May 2021 | Reading Time: 2 minutes

The leadership of India and USA had met a number of times in the past five months which can be termed as high profile meetings setting the course for a strategic partnership. Many analysts were skeptical about ghe direction which Biden administration would adopt in dealing with India, but all doubts were dispelled with the strong commitment shown by the US President in forging a strong bilateral relationship with India. The relaunch of Quad as a strategic grouping aimed at maintaining a free and open Indo Pacific is not only aimed at China, but also a strong statement of purpose about future India US relations. The US Secretary of Defence chose to come to India in his first foreign trip and the Modi Biden virtual summit was a turning point in which the contours of future engagements and strategic relations were identified.

The statement released by External Affairs Ministry on Friday reads, “External Affairs Minister will be visiting the United States from 24-28 May 2021. In New York, he is expected to meet UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. In Washington DC, External Affairs Minister will hold discussions with his counterpart Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He will also be meeting Cabinet members and Senior Officials of the Administration dealing with the bilateral relationship. External Affairs Minister will have two interactions with business forums on economic & COVID-related cooperation between India and the US.”

USA has been the most steadfast ally in India’s fight against second wave of Covid 19, though with some initial hiccups, contributing close to a billion dollars worth of assistance as well as lifting embargo on vaccine raw materials, donating vaccines and support for IPR waiver for vaccine formulae. This is the minister’s first visit to the US after the Biden administration has come into power. But Dr Jaishankar had met his counterpart Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on the sidelines of G7 summit in London earlier this month. There are two interactions with business forums on economic & COVID-related cooperation between the two countries on the EAM’s agenda. The business forum meetings will focus on how the two countries can work together to fight the surge in COVID-19 cases in India as well as vaccine production in India. According to reports, the external affairs minister will be meeting with top executives of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

The visit also comes ahead of the next round of 2+2 Ministerial Level talks which is expected to take place later this year in Washington DC. But another point of discussion by the US leaders could be the expected delivery of Russian S400 Air Defence systems later this year. USA has not yet committed on their stance about strategic arms purchase by India from Russia. Secretary Blinken and Dr Jaishankar are also likely to discuss Palestine Israel conflict, Afghanistan and Quad during the bilateral meetings.