Washington:
At a time of changing world order and security challenges posed by the war between Russia and Ukraine, Kurt Campbell, the White House Indo-Pacific adviser, said the US has decided to step up its partnership with India and provide New Delhi with the alternatives to security issues.
The official also called the relationship with India “the most important” for the US in the 21st century.
“I think there are always challenges in our bilateral relationship, the key is to stay focused to understand that the most important relationship, in my view for the United States in the 21st century, will probably be with India,” he said in a statement. a panel. discussion in Washington’s Center for a New American Security (CNAS), USA.
“We need to make it institutionally clear that we will intensify our partnerships with the Indian government, stronger ties with intelligence agencies, stronger trade and economic ties,” noted the top US policymaker.
Commenting on various policy responses from QUAD partners (Australia, India, Japan and the US) to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he said: “It is unrealistic to expect that you will have full agreement between four dynamic countries on every issue. “
Campbell defended India’s neutral stance on the crisis, stating that the US is working privately with New Delhi and its leaders in an effort to communicate very clearly that the US wants to build a “stronger relationship with India” over time. .
“However, I think it is clear that in conversations and appointments with Indian friends, they understand the seriousness of the situation in Ukraine… And so I think what we have tried to do in a responsible way is to talk privately with Indian colleagues in an effort to communicate very clearly that we want to build a stronger relationship with India over time.”
Campbell also stressed that the US, along with its allies such as the UK, France and Israel, will also help India with security alternatives.
“We need to help India with security alternatives, which means providing capabilities not only to the United States, but also partners such as Britain, France and Israel. We are working with other countries to support India so that it is a broader set of choices when it comes to security and defense,” the White House official said.
Going further, he said India and the US have made progress in forging a strong partnership. The India-US partnership may be difficult, but necessary, “not just at the president-prime-leader level, but institutions like the 2+2 dialogue,” Campbell said.
Campbell also referred to the 2+2 ministerial dialogue between defense and diplomacy leaders, calling the meetings between the two countries “excellent” and how the two democracies “were able to discuss a range of issues” determined to increase collaboration and engagement.
“I think the long, long-term trajectory will bring the United States and India much closer together.”
India’s strategically independent foreign policy towards the Russo-Ukrainian war that began earlier this year has thrust New Delhi into the international spotlight. As many hoped India would have joined Ukraine and against Russia, given New Delhi’s growing involvement with Washington in the Quad group.
At the forum, Indian-American Democratic Congresswoman Dr. Ami Bera, who represents the California district that encompasses the city of Sacramento, and chairs the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs, which has significant influence on legislation and spending in that area.
The US relationship with India is “strategic, deep and long-term,” US Representative Ami Bera told the panel, stressing that he sees an opportunity in the relationship between India and the US, as “India has see that it is hungry for the west and the United States”.
The US has often admitted publicly that it understands India’s historical ties to Russia and that it would be difficult for India to cut its ties with Russia quickly.
“Yes, there are always hitches in our relationship with India, but at the end of the day, the trajectory is always going in the right direction,” Bera added.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.)