External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Argentina’s Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero, the Netherlands’ Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Wopke Hoekstra, and South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor ahead of the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting.
“So nice to welcome FM @SantiagoCafiero of Argentina this evening. Glad to see the steady progress in our relations. Trade has expanded significantly even as defence cooperation unfolds. Our nuclear partnership has also been mutually beneficial.” Jaishankar will chair two sessions at the foreign ministers’ meeting on Thursday.
“The first session will focus on multilateralism, and issues related to food and energy. The second session will focus on four or five key issues including new and emerging threats including counter-terrorism and narcotics, global skill mapping, and focus on global talent pools,” said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.
In the meantime, Jaishankar was given a football jersey by his Argentina counterpart. Today, Jaishankar met with Dutch Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Wopke Hoekstra, as well as South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor.
“Delighted to meet DPM and FM of Netherlands @WBHoekstra today. Welcome his participation in #G20FMM A good discussion on technology, mobility and innovation. Exchanged perspectives on Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific,” Jaishankar tweeted.
“Always a pleasure to meet FM Naledi Pandor of South Africa. This time in New Delhi for #G20FMM. Discussed G20 focus areas and the agenda of our Ministerial. Also exchanged views on BRICS. Appreciated the growth in our bilateral relationship,” he said in a tweet.
The G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on March 1-2, 2023, under India’s presidency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to speak to the foreign ministers of the G20 member countries about India’s growing global influence. The G20 foreign ministers will meet on March 1-2, just days after the bloc’s finance chiefs meet in Bengaluru.
The New Delhi meeting will be attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. In total, 40 countries, including non-G20 members invited by India, and multilateral organisations will be represented.
