NewsGate Press Network

Top leadership of the United States has again reiterated their call to all nations not to have major weapons transactions with Russia.

This was stated by US foreign minister, the secretary of state Mr Antony Blinken in presence of Rajnath Singh and S Jaishankar who had travelled to Washington for a 2+2 formatted meeting with the American leadership.

Couple of Hours before Rajnath-Jaishankar meeting Blinken and Lloyd Austin (US defence minister),  Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a short virtual meeting with the US President Joe Biden.

Blinken’s remarks were made after the conclusion of the 2+2 meeting, the ministerial dialogue between the defence and foreign ministers of both the countries.

And during a joint press conference he continued to add that all countries should “avoid major new transactions for Russian weapons systems, particularly in light of what Russia is doing to Ukraine”.

When the US foreign minister was asked whether Washington is considering imposing sanctions on India over procuring S-400 air defence systems from Russia, he said  – “We have not yet made a determination regarding potential sanctions or potential waivers under the CAATSA law.”

However Mr Blinken recognised that there is a long history and long relationship between India and Russia in the trade of military equipment.

“That relationship took hold at a time when we were not able and willing to be a partner to India. Now we are both able and willing to be such a partner — to be the security partner of choice for India.”

Earlier during their virtual meeting Modi and Biden exchanged views on several regional and global issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, global economic recovery, climate action, recent developments in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region, and the situation in Ukraine.
Both leaders agreed that further strengthening of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership would be of tremendous benefit to the two countries, and would also contribute to global peace, prosperity and stability, the statement added

Come 24th of May, next month, there is a likelihood that Narendra Modi and Joe Biden will have a one-to-one meeting in Japan during the next Quad Summit.