Pompeo dials Jaishankar; discussion held on COVID-19, security of Indo-Pacific region

In order to boost global cooperation to tackle Coronavirus pandemic, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo spoke to External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday, revealed Morgan Ortagus, Spokesperson for US State Department. 

EAM Jaishankar and Pompeo spoke over phone and discussed bilateral and multilateral cooperation on issues of international concern. One of prime topics of discussion is said to be combined efforts to combat COVID-19 pandemic and Indo-Pacific region, a senior US official told news ncy PTI.

"Both leers agreed to continue close cooperation on a full range of regional and international issues and look forward to Qurilateral consultations and US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year," said Cale Brown, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of State Department.

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Discussion on South China Sea

Apart from pandemic, leers also discussed multilateral cooperation on issues of global concern including security in Indo-Pacific, where China has been trying to spre its influence. y also touched upon  need to hold an early meeting of Qurilateral which comprises of countries such as US, India, Australia, and Japan, focusing on ensuring freedom of navigation in South China Sea.

Pompeo also spoke to his counterparts and Foreign Ministers of Australia, Brazil, India, Israel, and Republic of Korea as well. A discussion on importance of continued close coordination in response to COVID19 pandemic was talked upon, as per US State Department. 

"y ted importance of close cooperation to reopen our ecomies and counter disinformation, while also dressing need for concerted efforts to prevent future pandemics," said Morgan Ortagus, to news ncy ANI.

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(With ncy Inputs)