Foreign Secretary Misri meets senior White House officials, NSC leadership

Washington: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held productive discussions with senior White House officials and the National Security Council leadership on issues of mutual strategic interest and recent developments in West Asia, the Indian embassy here said on Friday.

Misri’s meetings at the White House come as the US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire for the war that broke out on February 28.

A delegation led by Vice President J D Vance is headed to Pakistan for negotiations with the Iranian leadership on Saturday to end the war.

The Foreign Secretary’s discussions also focused on the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture, an initiative announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington in February last year.

“Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had productive discussions with senior White House officials. He met NSC leadership and exchanged views on issues of mutual strategic interest, including the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture and recent developments in West Asia,” the Indian embassy said in a social media post.

Indian Ocean Strategic Venture seeks to emerge as a whole-of-government forum to advance coordinated investments in economic connectivity and commerce in the Indian Ocean.

“The United States believes that India will play a central role in ensuring a favourable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. In this context, a strong, confident India is not only good for the Indian people; it is good for Americans as well,” Elbridge Colby, the Under Secretary in the Department of Defence, said during a visit to India last month.

Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra hosted a reception in honour of Misri at the India House here. The officials from the US administration also attended the reception.

“At a reception hosted by @AmbVMKwatra in India House, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri interacted with friends and partners from across the US Administration, reaffirming the strong and vibrant bilateral partnership, and joint efforts to further strengthen ties,” the Indian Embassy said.

Misri arrived here late Tuesday night on a three-day visit.

He has held meetings with senior officials from the Department of Defence, Commerce and State.

Misri also met Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday.WITH AGENCY INPUTS