Washington DC [US]: The US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized on Monday that the US consistently raises issues with its Indian counterparts, including specific concerns. His comments came in the wake of a meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Italy.
Responding to questions about the timing of the meeting, particularly after the US indictment of industrialist Adani and allegations against an Indian agent in a Sikh activist murder plot, Miller said:
“I’m not going to get into private diplomatic conversations, but as you’ve heard us say before, we regularly raise in conversations with our Indian counterparts that case and the concerning implications from it.”
On Questions About Global Mistrust and Trump Administration
Miller was also asked about global mistrust after the election of Donald Trump, with concerns voiced by Europe and other US allies. Questions included scrutiny over President Joe Biden pardoning his son, despite earlier claims he would not.
Addressing these inquiries, Miller refrained from commenting on the incoming administration’s policies, emphasizing the principle of “one president at a time.”
“Look, I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment on the policies of an administration that has not yet taken office. We have one president at a time. I’m glad to stand up here and take questions about President Biden’s foreign policy. And presumably, there will be a new State Department spokesperson on January 21st who can take questions about President Trump’s foreign policy,” he stated.