External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Pompeo in Washington

By Sidhant Sibal and Anshu Dubey

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo in Washington. 

This is the fourth meet between Jaishankar and Pompeo in last four months. They two leaders first met in Delhi during Pompeo's India visit, the second meeting was held during ASEAN FMs meet in Bangkok. The third meet was held last week at the first-ever Quad Foreign ministers meet in New York and now in Washington.

After the meet, EAM Jaishanker said, "It was a very comfortable meeting, this is not the first time I am meeting him. A big part of it was spent on various bilateral issues and we did stocktaking post PM's meeting US President Donald Trump, both of us felt that trade issue has progressed for the larger relationship that was important. We see some early results"

He further added, "We obviously discussed our immediate region and what was happening in region East of India as well as South-East Asia. Some discussion on the Gulf. "

Jaishankar is in Washington after his New York visit during which he met more than 40 of his counterparts.

The meet also comes two days after PM Modi concluded his week-long high profile US visit. The visit, many see, helped bring US and India closers.

Both US President Donald Trump and PM Modi endorsed each other during the Indian diaspora event in Houston--Howdy Modi that saw the participation of 50,000 people, mostly Indian-Americans.

Using Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again", PM said, Trump has achieved much for the United States. Further endorsing him he said "abki baar baar Trump Sakar".

Trump meanwhile, called PM Modi as "One of Americas most devoted and most loyal friends" who is "doing a truly exceptional job for India and all of the Indian people".

Both sides are working on a trade agreement with trade minister Piyush Goyal meeting his counterpart United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer last week in New York.

President Donald Trump and PM Modi have met four times in last four months--on the sidelines of G20 summit in Osaka, G7 summit in France, the Houston diaspora event and bilateral meet on the sidelines of United Nation General Assembly. 

Both sides are working on US President Donald Trump's first India visit later this year. Talks are already underway for the visit and US President Donald Trump also hinted at it when he spoke at diaspora event last week in Texas.

"Thousands in Mumbai will watch the first-ever NBA game in India..am I invited Mr Prime Minister? I may come, be careful I may come", Trump said.