Indo-Pacific region key to India-US partnership
India and the United States have expressed their commitment to consolidate and expand the multi-faceted strategic partnership between two countries.
FollowIndia and the United States have expressed their commitment to consolidate and expand the multi-faceted strategic partnership between the two countries.
They also reiterated their commitment to peace and security, especially in the Indo-Pacific region after what they see an increasingly assertive China in the region.
After assuming the charge as US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken called Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed a range of issues pertaining to defence, economic, health among others.
During their telephonic conversation, Jaishankar congratulated him on his appointment and wished him success in his new responsibilities.
"The two ministers appreciated the robust defence and security ties, growing economic engagement, productive health-care collaboration and strong people-to-people linkages as its important pillars," the External Affairs Ministry said.
On the post-Covid world scenario, Jaishankar and Blinken agreed to work together to address global issues, including safe and affordable vaccine supply.
Two days back, US Secretary of Defence Gen (Retired) Lloyd Austin and NSA Jake Sullivan called their Indian counterparts Rajnath Singh and Ajit Doval, respectively to discuss regional and international issues including combating the scourge of terrorism, maritime security, cybersecurity and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
All these issues have an indirect reference to China and Pakistan from India's perspective.
India and the US have shared interests in promoting global security, stability, and economic prosperity through trade, investment, and connectivity.
In October 2020, India hosted the third 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Delhi led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and their US counterparts, wherein the two sides signed the last of four foundational agreements for strategic ties, BECA.
It stands for Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation which will enhance maritime information sharing and maritime domain awareness between both the navies.
The previous three are —- the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) signed in 2002, the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) signed in 2016, the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in 2018.
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