Antony Blinken in India Updates: 'We view India as a force for good in defence of free, open Indo-Pacific,' says US Secretary of State

‘We view India as a force for good in defence of free, open Indo-Pacific,’ says Blinken

While addressing reporters, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also spoke about the shared values that strengthen the India-US relationship. 

“Like our own, India’s democracy is powered by its free thinking citizens. We applaud that. We view Indian democracy as a force for good in defence of a free and open Indo-Pacific and a free and open world,” he said.

“We talk about in our founding document, search for a more perfect union that means that we are not perfect. Our quest is to get closer to the ideals we set for ourselves. At times, the challenge is painful and ugly, but as democracies, we do it openly,” he added.

Quad is not a military alliance, goal is reinforce international rules: Blinken

While addressing reporters after holding exetnsive talks with India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed that the Quad or Quardrilateal Security Dialogue, is not a military alliance.

“What Quad is? It’s quite simple but as important. Four like-minded countries coming together to work on some of the most important issues of time that are going to have real impact on the lives of the people and do in a way that ensures a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Blinken said in New Delhi, according to ANI.

The Quad is a forum which includes US, India, Australia and Japan, but has been posited by China as the future “Asian NATO”.

Rejecting that view, Blinken said, “Quad is not a military alliance. Its purpose is to advance cooperation on regional challenges while reinforcing international rules and values that we believe together underpin peace, proseparity, stability in the region.”

Quad is not a military alliance. Its purpose is to advance cooperation on regional challenges while reinforcing international rules and values that we believe together underpin peace, proseparity, stability in the region: US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken in Delhi https://t.co/F3TbbEvlsT

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2021

Taliban wants its leaders to travel freely in the world, sanctions lifted: Blinken

Taking over the country by force and abusing the rights of the people is not the path to achieve those objectives. There is only one path and that is at the negotiation table to resolve the conflict peacefully: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New Delhi (1/2) pic.twitter.com/DQxTAGqBBu

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2021

Reports of Taliban committing attrocities in Afghanistan deeply troubling, says Antony Blinken

The Taliban is making advances in district centres, there are reports of them committing atrocities in Afghanistan. It's deeply troubling. It certainly doesn't speak well about their intention for the country. We remain engaged in Afghanistan: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pic.twitter.com/lrt2Cdy3by

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2021

Engaged in diplomacy of working to bring parties together: Blinken on Afghanistan

Speaking on Afghanistan, Blinken said, “Even as we withdraw our forces from Afghanistan, we remain engaged in Afghanistan. We have not only a strong embassy there but also have important programmes that support the country economically through development and security assistance.”

“We are very much engaged in the diplomacy of working to bring parties together at the table for the resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken,” he added.

Even as we withdraw our forces from Afghanistan, we remain engaged in Afghanistan. We have not only a strong embassy there but also have important programmes that support the country economically through development and security assistance: US Secy of State Antony Blinken pic.twitter.com/4CbMeqEeqg

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2021

There are few relationships in the world that are more vital than the one between the US and India. We are two of the world's leading democracies and diversity fuels our national strength: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Delhi pic.twitter.com/INlYRFX52V

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2021

S Jaishankar thanks US govt for keeping raw material supply chains open for vaccine production

Let me acknowledge responsiveness of Biden administration to keeping the raw material supply chains open for vaccine production in India & then say big thanks for the support we received during COVID second wave from US, a support that was truly exceptional: EAM S Jaishankar pic.twitter.com/VHshHJqI0z

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2021

Democracy should not be used to provoke antagonism, says Chinese FM

In an apparent reference to US secretary of State Antony Blinken’s remarks highlighting “a democratic recession” across the world, the Chinese foreign ministry said that Democracy should not be used to discredit other countries or provoke antagonism.

“Which country is democratic and which country is authoritarian is not defined by a few countries,” the Chinese FM said, according to News18.

In a transcript of Blinken’s address to civil society organisations in Inia, the US State Department quoted Blinken as saying, 

While addressing civil society organisations in India, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had said US, India must work against threats to democracy.

“At a time of rising global threats to democracy and international freedoms – we talk about a democratic recession — it’s vital that we two world leading democracies continue to stand together in support of these ideals,” blinken noted, as per a transcript of his address was released by the US State department.

According to Reuters, Blinken on Wednesday also met with a representative of Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in New Delhi on Wednesday, a State Department spokesperson said, a move that may have proviked China’s reaction as well.

India-US cooperation covers all domains of contemporary relevance: MEA

Listing out the broad topics that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar listed out in his opening remarks during the meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the MEA stressed on how the India-US cooperation covers virtually all domains of contemporary relevance.

Jaishankar highligted the shared interests, similar concerns and cooperation that India and US showed against COVID-19 pandemic in his opening remark, the MEA tweeted.

Blinken is on a two-day visit to India to hold talks with Jaishankar and India’s NSA Ajit Doval on topics related to regional security, defence, China, Quad and recent human rights records of India. 

EAM @DrSJaishankar during his opening remarks with @SecBlinken highlighted:
•India-US cooperation covers virtually all domains of contemporary relevance
•Our shared interests, similar concerns, strong convergences
•Cooperation against the Covid pandemic pic.twitter.com/xvMXDuD3hn

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 28, 2021

Blinken meets Doval; security, defence on agenda

As part of his two-day visit to India, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also held a meeting with India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Wednesday. The meet is crucial as defence and security of the Indian Ocean Region has been pegged as key focus areas of Blinken’s visit.

That the meeting is also being held amid US withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, Doval is expected to bring up India’s security concerns, including seeking US help in keeping up the pressure on Pakistan to give up its support to terrorism. 

Then there’s the matter of Indo-Pacific security, China’s growing assertiveness and the Quad as a possible response to that.

Greater imperative of cooperation than ever before: Blinken

During a meeting with S Jaishankar, Antony Blinken said, “There isn’t a challenge that doesn’t have an impact on the lives of our citizens, whether it’s COVID or the disruptive impact of emerging technologies, that can be addressed by any one of us acting alone. There’s a greater imperative on cooperation among countries than ever before.”

‘Appreciate work done together’: Blinken says in meet with S Jaishankar

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting at noon ahead of a 2.30 pm joint press conference, in which the former appreciated the work done by the two countries together and what is in the pipeline in the coming months.

Jaishankar mentioned the importance of Indo-Pacific peace, democratic stability in Afghanistan and deepening Quad as a collaborative platform for “mutual interest”, apart from highlighting the need to combat challenges like terrorism.

“President Biden’s determination is to continue to grow stronger the relationship between India and the US,” Blinken said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hold talks with EAM S Jaishankar in Delhi

"I deeply appreciate the work that we have been able to do together and the work that we are going to do together in coming months," Blinken says pic.twitter.com/gPtMYxJn6L

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2021

Antony Blinken to meet EAM S Jaishankar at noon

The US Secretary of State is scheduled to meet EAM S Jaishankar at noon. Thereafter, they will hold a joint press conference at 2.30 pm. Finally, the US Secretary of State will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Antony Blinken meets NSA Ajit Doval

Delhi: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken left from South Block after meeting NSA Ajit Doval pic.twitter.com/dgGt654TUl

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2021

Antony Blinken meets civil society leaders

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday met civil society leaders, including senior Tibetan Buddhist leader. Some of the others present were, Dr AK Merchant the Head of Baha’i Foundation, Satinder Pal Singh of United Sikhs, Menaka Guruswamy a noted lawyer.

I was pleased to meet civil society leaders today. The U.S. and India share a commitment to democratic values; this is part of the bedrock of our relationship and reflective of India’s pluralistic society and history of harmony. Civil society helps advance these values. pic.twitter.com/5NL2WiQ13o

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) July 28, 2021

Afghanistan to stay high on Blinken’s agenda during India visit

People familiar with the agenda of the visit said both sides will extensively deliberate on the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan with the Taliban increasing its hostilities in an attempt to seize control of new areas in the country.

Afghanistan witnessed a series of terror attacks in the last few weeks as the US withdrew the majority of its troops and is looking at completing the draw down by 31 August, ending nearly two decades of its military presence in the country.

Antony Blinken arrived in India on Tuesday

🇮🇳🇺🇸
A partnership anchored in shared values, mutual interests and goodwill.

Welcome to US Secretary of State @SecBlinken on his arrival in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/iFd7C5pH31

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 27, 2021

Blinken’s maiden visit to India after assuming office

This is Blinken’s first visit to India after assuming charge as the US Secretary of State and the third by a high-ranking Biden administration official after it came to power in January. 

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin visited India in March while US Special Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry travelled to New Delhi in April.

Antony Blinken to meet PM Modi, NSA Doval during India visit

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday before leaving for Kuwait as part of his two-nation tour. Watch this space for the latest updates on his India trip.