Amid China-US tension: Jaishankar meets Blinken, discusses Lanka, ASEAN

“A warm conversation to start meetings on the sidelines of ASEAN Ministerial in Phnom Penh. Discussed the ever strengthening India-US relationship and the global situation with US Secretary of State @SecBlinken,” Jaishankar tweeted.

A warm conversation to start meetings on sidelines of ASEAN Ministerial in Phnom Penh.

Discussed the ever strengthening India-US relationship and the global situation with US Secretary of State @SecBlinken. pic.twitter.com/JzcrBSklx4

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 4, 2022

Blinken said the US and India are strong proponents of the ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific, according to the US State Department. “We are both strong proponents of ASEAN centrality. We have a shared vision together for a free and open Indo-Pacific that we work on in so many different ways every single day,” Blinken said.

“And of course, we have some immediate challenges that we’re both concerned with, to include the situation in Sri Lanka, Burma, and a number of other hot spots,” he said. “So I very much look forward to once again being able to go through a number of these issues with my friend, and then we’ll both head over to our meetings.”

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that Jaishankar and Blinken “exchanged views on global and regional issues, including Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine and the implications it has had on food insecurity around the world”.

India has so far sought to maintain diplomatic balance between Russia and the US-led West on Russian invasion of Ukraine. While it has expressed concern at the killings in Bucha, it has stopped short of condemning Moscow’s actions.

Price said, “They discussed Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and emphasized that both nations stand with the people of Sri Lanka and support their aspirations for a return to economic and political stability through democratic and constitutional processes.”

Jaishankar also met Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry.

He later tweeted, “A warm first meeting with FM Ali Sabry of Sri Lanka. Congratulated him on his new responsibility. Reaffirmed India’s commitment, as a dependable friend and reliable partner, to the economic recovery and well being of Sri Lanka. Neighbourhood First.”

A warm first meeting with FM Ali Sabry of Sri Lanka. Congratulated him on his new responsibility.

Reaffirmed India’s commitment, as a dependable friend and reliable partner, to the economic recovery and well being of Sri Lanka.

Neighbourhood First. pic.twitter.com/qTCtmFm89h

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 4, 2022

India has so far extended almost $4 billion worth economic and humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, as it battles its worst economic crisis since 1948.

On the Jaishankar-Blinken meeting, the US spokesperson also said, “Secretary Blinken condemned the Burmese military regime’s execution of democracy activists, and they discussed promoting accountability for the regime’s atrocities as well as our collective efforts to put Burma back on the path to democracy. They also noted our shared efforts to promote a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

India has expressed “deep concern” at the recent executions, but has not yet condemned Myanmar’s junta strongly on these latest actions.

Jaishankar, who attended the India-ASEAN ministerial meeting, said India and the 10-nation grouping have “strong convergence” on Indo-Pacific, combating the threat of terrorism, and the developments in Ukraine and Myanmar.

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He said India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also have similar views on connectivity projects, dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and issues relating to cybersecurity.

The minister identified the digital domain, health, agriculture, education and green growth as areas that drive the partnership between the two sides. “Digital, health, agriculture education and green growth will drive our partnership. Act East unfolds steadily,” he tweeted.

The India-ASEAN foreign ministers’ dialogue focused on overall developments in the Indo-Pacific region and ways to further expand ties against the backdrop of geopolitical developments, including the crisis in Ukraine. The foreign ministers also discussed the situation in the South China Sea, which is witnessing aggressive behaviour by China.