Blinken Says US, India Unite To Fight Covid-19

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Friday that their two countries were united to fight the covid-19 pandemic together..

Jaishankar, who has spent the past week in the United States seeking help dealing with India’s coronavirus crisis, Told reporters as he stood with Blinken at the State Department, India was grateful to the US administration for its strong support and solidarity..

“The partnership between the United States and India is vital, strong and I think it is increasingly productiveBlinken said.

“We are united to face Covid-19 together“, He added.” We are united to meet the challenge posed by climate change, and we are partnering directly through the Quad, other United Nations agencies, to face many of the challenges we face. are facing in the region around the world. “

Jaishankar said India appreciates the United States for their “strong support and solidarity at a time of great difficulty for us. “

Ties between the United States and India have tightened in recent years amid shared concerns over China’s rise and they have strengthened their cooperation through a grouping of four countries known as Quad, which also involves Australia and Japan.

US President Joe Biden’s Indo-Pacific Policy Coordinator Kurt Campbell said on Wednesday that US plans to convene in-person Quad leaders summit in fall, with focus on infrastructure.

The Quad organized a first virtual summit in March and committed to working closely on covid-19 vaccines, climate and security.

(Reuters)