Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the 19th East Asia Summit. The summit was held on Friday, October 11th, 2024, at Vientiane in Laos. PM Modi expressed his condolences over the loss of lives caused due to Hurricane Milton in the United States.
Key Highlights
This gesture highlighted India’s solidarity with the US in challenging times. They also had discussions on topics related to regional stability and security particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Both of them also emphasized on maintaining international peace with each other.
The meeting also highlighted the strong diplomatic relationship between India and the United States. PM Modi and Antony Blinken also discussed ways to enhance cooperation in various fields, including trade, defense, and technology.
PM Modi Addresses 19th East Asia Summit
Addressing the 19th East Asia Summit, the Indian Prime Minister further stressed the effects of ongoing global conflict, especially in Eurasia and the Middle East. He also emphasized the need to promote peace and stability in the regions. “The conflicts going on in different parts of the world are having the most negative impact on the countries of the Global South. Everyone wants peace and stability should be restored as soon as possible. I come from the land of Buddha, and I have repeatedly said that this is not the era of war. Solutions to problems cannot come from the battlefield. It is necessary to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international laws,” the Prime Minister added.
Further, he also asked to prioritize a humanitarian approach and extend India’s contribution in every possible way. He said, “Keeping a humanitarian approach, dialogue, and diplomacy will have to be given priority. Fulfilling the responsibility of Vishwabhadhu, India will continue to contribute in every possible way in this direction”.
In reference to China’s actions in the South China Sea, PM Modi highlighted the need to conduct maritime activities under the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).
“It is necessary to ensure freedom of navigation and airspace. A strong and effective Code of Conduct should be created. And it should not curb the foreign policy of regional countries. Our approach should be one of developmentalism and not expansionism,” Modi noted.
China’s Actions against the South China Sea
Many countries in the region and beyond have expressed worry and tension following China’s action and deliberate conflict within the South China Sea region. China claims to have jurisdiction over about 90 percent of the area often termed the South China Sea. It is indicated by the “nine-dashed line”, that violates the international waters of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
China has been constructing artificial islands in the South China Sea. Some of these islands are used for military purposes as they contain airports for military aircraft, missile launching sites, and radar stations.
Earlier this year, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the tactic as “more assertive, dangerous and unlawful” in the South China Sea.
Hurricane Milton
Notably, On Wednesday, October 9th, 2024, Hurricane Milton, a powerful category 3 hurricane hit Florida, causing substantial damage across the state, particularly in the areas including Tampa Bay and Sarasota. These regions were already affected by previous storms. The hurricane resulted in several fatalities.
At least 16 people have lost their lives due to tornadoes in St Lucie County and over 80,000 people were displaced across various facilities across the state. The United States Coast Guard and other emergency services conducted various rescue operations and provided aid to the affected communities.
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