• Source:PTI
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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Germany’s Munich on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Both leaders discussed the progress of India-US ties and the ongoing crisis at the Red Sea. 

The talks between Jaishankar and Blinken were centred on the situation in West Asia, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific. Taking to his official X handle, EAM S Jaishankar wrote, “Great to meet my friend US @SecBlinken this afternoon on MSC 2024 sidelines. Our talk centered on the situation in West Asia, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific. Reviewed the continuing progress in our bilateral ties.”

Both leaders discussed the need to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea amid rising attacks. They also highlighted how India and the US played a significant role in safeguarding economic stability in the volatile region. 

The meeting between the two leaders comes at a time when Yemen's Houthi rebels have been targeting ships in the Red Sea since November, demanding a cease-fire in Israel's war with Hamas. The leaders also discussed ongoing efforts to achieve long-term peace and stability in the Middle East. 

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, “Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar today in Munich, Germany, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Secretary Blinken and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar discussed the need to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.”

“Secretary Blinken highlighted that the respective US and Indian approaches to maritime security in the Red Sea are mutually reinforcing and play important roles in safeguarding economic stability in the region. The Secretary and External Affairs Minister also discussed ongoing work to ensure lasting peace and security in the Middle East,” he said.

The bilateral meeting came two weeks after the United States agreed to supply 31 armed MQ-9B Predator drones to India and nearly two months after strained diplomatic ties between the two nations over an alleged plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on US soil. India has already formed a high-level probe committee to investigate US allegations.