External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Washington DC on Wednesday for two apparently hectic days that included meetings with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai, lawmakers, and the private sector. Earlier in the week, speaking from New York City, the minister had characterised the India-U.S. relationship as one of the major relationships in the world.
Mr. Jaishankar, who is on his first visit to the U.S. during the Biden administration, met with Mr. Sullivan on Thursday. Both sides indicated that there was a discussion on regional (Indo-Pacific) or global issues, with Mr Jaishankar specifying, via a tweet, that Afghanistan came up.
“Conveyed appreciation for US solidarity in addressing the Covid challenge. India-US vaccine partnership can make a real difference,” the tweet said.
The U.S. readout said Mr. Jaishankar and Mr. Sullivan “welcomed” cooperation that has resulted in the delivery of over $ 500 million in relief materials (state, federal and private sector sources) from the U.S. to India.
“They agreed that people-to-people ties and shared values are the foundation of the U.S.-India strategic partnership that is helping to end the pandemic, supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific, and providing global leadership on climate change,” it said.
The Hindu had reported that procuring vaccines and sorting out issues around this, such as early Emergency Use Authorisation and liability are central to Mr. Jaishankar’s trip agenda, though officials have been keen to stress that this is not the focus of the visit and that discussions would cover a more comprehensive list of topics pertinent to the strategic relationship between the two countries.
Mr Jaishankar met with Mr Austin on Friday morning. They exchanged views on ‘contemporary security challenges’ and discussed further developing the India-US strategic and defence partnership, as per a tweet from the minister.
“Expressed appreciation of the US military role in responding to the Covid situation,” Mr Jaishankar wrote.
The U.S. military has played a key role in the U.S.’s efforts to assist India as it battles a devastating wave of COVID-19.
Mr. Jaishankar said he had “good discussions” with Ms. Tai, who recently announced that the Biden administration would support an India-South Africa initiative at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to waive intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines.
“Our trade, technology & business cooperation are at the core of our strategic partnership.
Enhancing them is vital to post-Covid economic recovery. Welcomed her positive stance on IPR issues & support for efficient & robust supply chains,” Mr. Jaishankar said on Twitter.
Mr. Jaishankar had breakfast and lunch meetings on Thursday organised by advocacy and industry groups, the U.S. India Business Council (USIBC) and the U.S. India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).
The USIBC meeting included a discussion on how the private sector, working via a consortium of 40 companies called the ‘Global Task Force for Pandemic Response’, could “support India’s health infrastructure and further ways to continue relief efforts,” said a spokesperson for the group.
Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson — both companies that manufacture COVID-19 vaccines of interest to India – are part of the Task Force. The consortium’s ongoing efforts include the deployment of 1,000 ventilators and 100,000 oxygen concentrators to India (35,000 of which are scheduled for delivery by June-end), the spokesperson said.
Representatives of pharmaceutical firm Abbot and courier and shipping firm FedEx were among the companies present at the USISPF meeting, industry sources told The Hindu .
Mr. Jaishankar also spoke on the phone with the (Democratic) Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Gregory Meeks and its ranking member (Republican) Michael McCaul. He also had a phone call with House India Co-Chairs Steve Chabot (Republican).
Brad Sherman, the other co-chair, was among those present at a dinner for Mr. Jaishankar on Wednesday, at the house of Indian Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Others present there, according to US official sources, included Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, Senator Michael Bennet from Colorado. Also present was Jon Ossoff, the new Senator from Georgia, a battleground state where the Indian American vote is potentially crucial.
Mr Jaishankar met with officials again on Thursday evening at Mr Sandhu’s residence. These included Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and officials from the Departments of State, Energy, Treasury, Commerce, Homeland Security , and the National Science Foundation, according to announcements made by Mr Sandhu and Mr Jaishankar on Twitter.
A meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been scheduled for 2 pm on Friday.
