India Will Do What Is In Its National Interest: Jaishankar To Pompeo On S-400 Deal With Russia

On the trade differences that has of late caused a strain in the ties between India and US, Jaishankar said that it is natural for the two countries to have such differences, and that both the nations will try to mutually address the problem in an effective manner.

New Delhi: Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held an extensive bilateral meeting at the national capital on Wednesday and discussed several issues which affect the ties between the two countries. The External Affairs Minister conveyed to the US that India will go by its national interest while dealing with other countries, including with sanctions-hit Russia from whom New Delhi is procuring S 400 missile defence systems. Jaishankar also said that it is natural for the two nations to have trade differences and they will mutually try to address them effectively. In a joint press interaction by the two foreign ministers, Jaishankar said “India and the US have a strategic partnership that is actually based on deep and broad convergences which have been steadily growing over last many years.” “Obviously there will be some issues on which we will have our individual perspectives, but I think for us today both as countries and foreign ministers harmonising our interests and views, that’s really the task of diplomacy”, he added. Jaishankar said that their discussion covered trade issues, energy issues, investment concerns and people to people contacts between India and the US . Pompeo said India is an important partner of the US and that the bilateral ties were reaching new heights. While answering a question on the issue of sanctions under the US' Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) which may also impact India's procurement of the S400 systems from Moscow, Jaishankar said India has relationships with several countries. "We have many relationships..they have a history. We will do what is in our national interest and part of that strategic partnership is the ability of each country to comprehend and appreciate the national interest of the other," Jaishankar said. Noting that India-US strategic partnership was based on deep and broad convergence, Jaishankar said discussions with Pompeo were held on key issues including energy and trade as well as on the situation in Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific region. On terrorism, Jaishankar said he expressed appreciation for strong support of the Trump administration. Pompeo, who arrived here Tuesday night, also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the morning and discussed various aspects of the Indo-US relationship. The US Secretary of State's meetings with the Indian leadership are the first high-level interactions between the two countries after the return of the Modi government to power last month. (additional inputs from PTI)