India, U.S. reaffirm security ties as top diplomats, defense officials hold talks
The Associated Press
India and the United States underlined their commitment to boosting security ties as their top diplomats and defense chiefs held talks in mid-November 2023 on regional security, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and the wars in Europe and the Middle East.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi to demonstrate unity over Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine and Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel.
Blinken said India and the U.S. continue to “deepen our collaboration on everything from emerging technologies to defense to people-to-people ties,” and to align diplomacy for “an Indo-Pacific region that’s free, that’s open, that’s prosperous, that’s resilient.”
He said the nations discussed the crisis in the Middle East and “we appreciate the fact that from Day 1 India has strongly condemned the attacks of October 7 [2023]. And as our joint statement makes clear, India and the United States stand with Israel against terrorists.”
Jaishankar said the situation in the Middle East is a major concern. India has condemned the Hamas attack and called for talks on “a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side-by-side at peace with Israel.”
Blinken also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and “reaffirmed their shared vision for close partnership in the Indo-Pacific,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. “They emphasized working together to address ongoing crises such as Russia’s war against Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East.”
Vinay Mohan Kwatra, a top official in India’s Foreign Ministry, said the bilateral ministerial talks also covered India’s tense ties with the PRC.
New Delhi’s relationship with Beijing has deteriorated since a deadly clash between the nations’ forces in 2020 along their disputed border in the Himalayan Ladakh region. A standoff involving thousands of troops in eastern Ladakh continues, despite multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks.
Austin and Singh also discussed plans to fast-track technology cooperation and coproduction of defense systems, India’s Defence Ministry said.
Washington expects India to be a leading security provider in the Indo-Pacific. “We’re integrating our industrial bases, strengthening our interoperability and sharing cutting-edge technology,” Austin said.
Defense industrial cooperation will strengthen India’s capabilities, enhance its defense production, facilitate technology-sharing and promote supply chain resilience, according to a joint statement.
