In India, Blinken, Austin Discuss Indo-Pacific Amid Global Challenges
NEW DELHI (IANS) – Visiting US Secretary Antony Blinken on November 10 said that India-US defense co-operation is “a key pillar” for bolstering the partnership of the two countries in “international peace and security, and specifically, working to promote the rules-based order and uphold the principles at the heart of the UN Charter: sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence “.
Also in his opening remarks, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also said in his opening remarks that there have been “impressive gains in building our major defence partnership over the past year, and that will help us contribute even more together to the cause of peace and stability”.
“We’re integrating our industrial bases, strengthening our interoperability, and sharing cutting-edge technology,” he added.
Blinken said “We are promoting a free and open, prosperous, secure, and resilient Indo-Pacific, including by strengthening our partnership through the Quad, with Japan and Australia,” he explained.
Blinken went on to say that “one significant way we’re doing that is by enhancing maritime domain awareness: sharing commercial satellite data with countries in the region to boost their capacity, for example, to combat illegal fishing, piracy, drug trafficking”.
“We’re also coordinating humanitarian relief and disaster response efforts in the Indo-Pacific. We’re harnessing together the power of innovation to make our economies more resilient and to make our communities more secure, while expanding inclusive economic opportunity.
“That’s evident in the cooperation on semiconductors and advanced biotechnology; on our unprecedented investments in deploying clean energy at scale in our countries as well as across the region; and our joint research and exploration projects in space,” he added.
The top diplomat mentioned the people-to-people ties between the two countries and the steps that are being taken to reduce visa wait times and facilitate travel between India and the US.
Anil
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Hope India discussed USA and their anti-India role, which again comes to light with Biden’s comments and many US MPs speaking of anti-Hindu causes.
November 10, 2023Pradeep Srivastava
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This is a very encouraging development that is good for India, the largest democracy, as well as USA, the oldest democracy. The following additional information can be gleaned from Reuters News of November 10, 2023.
The two countries which were once on opposite sides of the Cold War are now working on landmark deals including for the U.S. to supply and manufacture engines for Indian fighter jets.
Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane said that deal between the aerospace unit of General Electric (GE.N) and India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics (HIAE.NS) was on track.
“We are finalising the commercial arrangements and the necessary legal requirements are being put in place,” he told reporters after the talks.
A more than $3 billion deal for India to buy 31 armed drones made by General Atomics is also being processed and India is waiting for the company to get U.S. government clearances for the next steps, Aramane said.
Washington had offered several infantry combat vehicle systems and New Delhi has expressed interest, he added without giving details.
Indian media reports have said the Pentagon has offered the Stryker family of eight-wheeled armoured fighting vehicles produced by General Dynamic Land Systems (GD.N) and that New Delhi is interested in jointly manufacturing them in India.
India-U.S. relations have steadily grown stronger on several fronts in the last two decades but New Delhi has also carefully preserved long-standing relations with Russia, much to the frustration of the West amid the war in Ukraine.
India has close strategic links with Israel and strong diplomatic and economic relationships with oil and gas producing countries in the Middle East.
New Delhi has condemned the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants in Israel as a “terrorist attack” while also reiterating its longstanding position for an independent Palestine.
A joint statement issued after Friday’s talks said the two sides called for the “immediate release of all remaining hostages” in Gaza.
“They expressed support for humanitarian pauses and committed to continue close diplomatic coordination, including with key partners in the region, to prevent the conflict from spreading, preserve stability in the Middle East, and work toward a political solution and durable peace,” it said.
November 12, 2023