The two leaders have been in regular communication during the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed more than 7 billion lives and infected nearly 19 million people around the world. (Proceedings)
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his US counterpart Mike Pompeo spoke by phone and discussed bilateral and multilateral cooperation on issues of international concern, including efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and the Indo-Pacific region. Pacific, said a senior US official.
The two leaders reiterated the strength of the India-US relationship to promote peace, prosperity, and security in the Indo-Pacific and around the world, Cale Brown, chief deputy spokesperson for the State Department said Thursday.
India and the US have explored ways to boost cooperation in the resource-rich Indo-Pacific region, where China has been trying to extend its influence. The issue was extensively discussed during the third round of the India-US Maritime Security Dialogue which took place in Goa in 2018.
The United States has been pushing for India to play a larger role in the important and strategically important Indo-Pacific region.
India, the United States, and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific in the context of China’s growing military maneuvers in the region.
“Both leaders agreed to continue close cooperation on a wide range of regional and international issues and look forward to the Quadrilateral consultations and the 2 + 2 Ministerial Dialogue between the United States and India later this year,” Brown said.
In November 2017, India, the US, Australia, and Japan shaped the long-standing quadrilateral coalition to develop a new strategy to keep critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free from Chinese influence.
The first 2 + 2 dialogue was held in New Delhi in September 2018 after the mechanism was approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
During the call, Jaishankar and Pompeo discussed ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation on issues of international concern, including efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, support the peace process in Afghanistan, and address recent destabilizing actions in the region. Brown said in a reading of the phone conversation.
The two leaders have been in regular communication during the coronavirus pandemic that claimed more than 7 lakh lives and infected nearly 19 million people around the world.
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