Situation in Afghanistan, ongoing efforts to return Myanmar to a path to democracy and China's growing dominance in the Indo-Pacific region dominated the discussions as US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman held extensive talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on a busy Wednesday in New Delhi.
Sherman also met Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla to review the India-US bilateral agenda and outcomes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the USA.
Her meetings with Jaishankar and Doval focused on strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership as the top officials also extensively discussed regional issues pertaining to South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.
"Deputy Secretary Sherman underscored the importance of continued close cooperation between the United States and India on global issues," Ned Price, spokesperson for the US Department of State, said in a short statement on the Sherman-Jaishankar meeting.
"They discussed regional developments, including in Afghanistan, Myanmar, and the People’s Republic of China, and discussed implementing outcomes from the recent bilateral meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Modi and the recent Quad Leaders’ Summit," the spokesperson added emphasising that the two countries continue to "further expand" the US-India comprehensive global strategic partnership.
"A good conversation on our relationship, its significance and its growth," tweeted Jaishankar after the meeting.
The US said that in her "substantive and in-depth meeting" with Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla, the Deputy Secretary of State discussed the growing security, economic, and Indo-Pacific convergence between India and the United States, including around ending the Covid-19 pandemic, combating the climate crisis and accelerating clean energy deployment, deepening trade and investment ties, and expanding cooperation on cybersecurity and emerging technologies.
"Deputy Secretary Sherman expressed the United States' gratitude for Prime Minister Modi's announcement that India, which is the world's largest vaccine producer, would soon resume exports of Covid-19 vaccines," said Price.
The spokesperson said that Sherman assured the Foreign Secretary of the United States' ongoing commitment to India’s national security as the two expressed their mutual commitment to upholding democracy and human rights and agreed on the importance of continued close cooperation on shared global challenges.
Sherman and Shringla also participated in a special session of the India-Ideas Summit organised by the US India Business Council on Wednesday.
Shringla said that Sherman's visit gives an excellent opportunity to review the outcomes of the PM's visit to the US – and the road ahead.
"On the bilateral front: Defence Policy Group, Economic and Financial Partnership dialogue, Trade Policy Forum, dialogues on counter-terrorism and designations and the 2+2 Ministerial which will take place soon – will take forward the vision of Prime Minister Modi and President Biden for the India-US relations," the Foreign Secretary said in his address at the session.
He affirmed that "given the fast-paced developments in South Asia, especially in Afghanistan", India and the US will remain closely engaged both on the future of Afghanistan, and on how they can maintain peace and stability in South Asia, and beyond.
After Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and CIA Director Bill Burns, the ongoing India visit of Sherman highlights the growing strategic partnership between the United States and India.
"It is essential for the strength of both our countries and a free and open Indo-Pacific," the top diplomat tweeted after meeting Jaishankar on Wednesday.
