The Indo-US meet-up in Washington DC was welcomed with much positivity and fervor. Both the countries were reassured of their continued support in various fields like defense, education, science and technology, climate, trade, public health, COVID-19, and interpersonal relations of the Indo-US citizens.
The Ministers reiterated their commitment to the take forward the initiatives announced by the leaders, to empower the Quad as a force for global good for the Indo-Pacific region; welcomed discussions in Quad working groups on vaccines, climate change: India-US statement pic.twitter.com/IgTLz6gQXR
— ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2022
During the 2+2 Ministerial Meet between India and the US, the US heartily thanked India for relentlessly supporting the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency (DPAA) mission carried out in India. Both Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assured a continued support in future DPAA missions.
In a collective statement taken from the 2+2 Ministerial Meet between Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Austin III held on 11th April, stated both countries will help in building a strong student and scholars network and aid in ease of mobility to build academic relationships.
In Tandem with this idea, the ministers then spoke of establishing a strong Indo-US Academic and Technical skill development working group and appreciated highly of the Fulbright-Nehru program which continues student and professional exchange programs between the two countries. For a very long time, several scores of Indians have settled in the US for work and business and this shows how deep the bilateral ties are.
The Ministers also welcomed free air traffic movement between the two countries aiding in Business and tourism travel to increase trade, economy, and innovation opportunities. India also appreciated the gesture of the US waiving off from 31st December 2022, the in-person visa interviews for visa applicants that earlier were issued any category visa and are now looking for specific non-immigrant visa category which involves intra-company transferees, academic and vocational students.
Topics like ‘Social Security Totalization Agreement’ and ‘Contemporary issues relating to Women’ were discussed.
However Apart from all the above, the Ukraine crisis was discussed predominantly, but interestingly neither US president Joe Biden asked for specific answers nor Indian PM Modi gave any (Narendra Modi was virtually present for the 2+2 meeting).
A senior US official asked the Indian Ministers whether a serious commitment was made to import Russian oil and whether India condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Press Secretary Jen Psaki and the senior US official in question had said that the payments made to Russia in return for importing Russian oil were yet not sanctioned, but surely the US wants India to distance itself from Russia and anything to do with its energy reserves.
Jen Psaki said, “President Joe Biden clearly expressed that it is not in India’s best interest to expedite or increase Russian oil imports or other commodities, and we will help India in giving it plenty of options as only 1 or 2% of Russian oil is imported.”
