India is set to host US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meet in New Delhi on 1 and 2 March. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also hold bilateral talks with his counterparts from the US and Russia on the sidelines of the G20 meeting. Sources told The Daily Guardian that Blinken and Lavrov are unlikely to hold bilateral talks.
The G20 FMs’ meeting assumes significance as it is taking place amid the growing tension between the US and Russia over the Ukraine conflict. Moreover, the meeting comes just days after the anniversary of the Russian war against Ukraine on 24 February. “The Ukraine conflict will figure prominently during Jaishankar’s meeting with Blinken and Lavrov,” sources said. “The issue of the Indo-Pacific in the background of growing Chinese aggression would also be one of the key agenda to be discussed between Jaishankar and Blinken,” sources said. The issues to be discussed may include Taiwan and South China Sea, sources added. Both Blinken and Lavrov will also be calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during visit to New Delhi. NSA Ajit Doval and other high security officials would also be meeting with the two foreign ministers.
“Various security challenges in the region, including the terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan would be discussed with Blinken and Lavrov,” officials told TDG.
The US State Department Friday announced Blinken’s visit and stated he would travel to India on 1 March for the G20 meet, which will focus on strengthening multilateralism and deepening cooperation on food and energy security, sustainable development, counter-narcotics, global health, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and gender equality and women empowerment.
The State Department added that Blinken would meet with Indian government officials and civil society “to reaffirm our strong partnership”.
The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier forum for international economic cooperation.
It plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on all major international economic issues. India’s presidency of the G20 began on 1 December, 2022, and will end on 30 November, 2023.
India’s special invitee guest countries for the G20 summit here this year are Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the UAE. India is hosting G20 meetings in several cities across the country.
In fact, Blinken’s visit will begin on February 28. First, he will visit Kazakhstan on 28 February. He will also visit Uzbekistan, from where he will come to India on 1 March.