Indian MEA S. Jaishankar holds talks with Australia, Indonesia

New Delhi – Following the talks with the Foreign Ministers of the United States and Russia, Indian MEA S. Jaishankar held telephonic talks with Foreign Ministers of Australia, Indonesia, Maldives and Bhutan. However, the details of the talks have not been released. But there were comprehensive discussions for strengthening the bilateral cooperation. It is important to note that all these countries are involved in some disputes with China. Against this background, the talks held by Jaishankar with the Foreign Ministers of these countries prove important.

Moreover, MEA Jaishankar held discussions with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Lestari Marsudi on Wednesday morning. Indonesia is the current President of the G-20. At the same time, India is currently a part of the Troika of the G-20. The country has the Presidency of G-20, the country that was President last year and the country chose to be the President next year from the Troika. These countries work in coordination. Next year India will be the President of G-20. Therefore, discussion with the Foreign Minister of Indonesia’s current President country becomes extremely important.

While exchanging new year greetings, both the leaders discussed the regional and international issues and bilateral cooperation. MEA Jaishankar and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marsudi also discussed Myanmar and Afghanistan issues. Jaishankar also held telephonic discussions with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne. Australia is a partner of India in the QUAD cooperation. The challenge of Chinese hegemony has strengthened in the Indo-Pacific region. The atmosphere is heating up also on the Taiwan issue. The trade disputes between China and Australia are showing no signs of resolving. A few months ago, Australia also joined the AUKUS group and the United States and the United Kingdom against the background of the Chinese threat. India China relations have been strained since the Chinese intrusion on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, and against this background, India and Australia are coming closer. The discussions with the Australian Foreign Minister increase significantly against this background. Jaishankar said that the cooperation between the two countries would scale new heights in 2022.

Moreover, MEA Jaishankar also held discussions on bilateral cooperation and common interests with Abdullah Shahid, the Foreign Minister of Maldives. Besides, Maldives is under a huge Chinese debt burden. The interest on these loans is equal to 50% of the GDP of Maldives. India is assisting the Maldives to wriggle out of the crisis. Moreover, MEA Jaishankar also established a dialogue with Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji. Besides, MEA Jaishankar assured Dorji of all the possible cooperation regarding the Corona crisis. Furthermore, the decision to develop the partnership between the two countries was taken during the meeting.