Referring to China as the “elephant in the room,” US Under Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said here on Monday that India and the United States have been “too cautious” about China’s reaction to strategic ties between New Delhi and Washington.
Speaking at the Ananta Center’s India-US Forum event, Biegun said: “Of course, as we move in this direction, there is an elephant in the room: China. Last week, before Secretary Pompeo’s meeting with Minister Jaishankar and his Japanese and Australian counterparts in Tokyo, I read the remarks of esteemed retired Indian diplomat Ashok Kantha. A comment he made particularly caught my attention. “
“I couldn’t agree more with Ambassador Kantha. We have been too cautious. The important and successful quadruple ministerial meeting last week leaves the United States with the confidence that perhaps, just maybe, we can say that we are present in creating those strategic ties that Ambassador Kantha refers to, “he added .
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met last week for the Quad (Australia, India, Japan, US) ministerial dialogue in Tokyo last week.
Biegun further said that Washington appreciates the strategic autonomy of New Delhi, adding that there is a “huge opportunity” in the US security relationship with India.
“Looking ahead, it is no secret that I see a huge opportunity in America’s security relationship with India. India has a strong and proud tradition of strategic autonomy, and we respect it, ”said the US Under Secretary of State.
He added that the Trump administration does not “seek to change” the traditions of India. “Rather, we want to explore how to empower them and India’s ability to defend its own sovereignty and democracy and advance the interests of India throughout the Indo-Pacific region. As the United States assesses our own interests and how they intersect with those of India, we have seen the conditions emerge for a deeper and organic partnership, not an alliance in the postwar model, but a fundamental alignment along goals. shared geopolitical and security. shared interests and values, ”added Biegun.
Beigun, on Monday, arrived in New Delhi for his three-day visit with the aim of promoting the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between the United States and India.
Foreign Minister Jaishankar met visitor Biegun on Monday and exchanged views on world politics and regional issues.
“… I appreciated the steady progress of our bilateral cooperation. Confident that our Strategic Partnership will continue to deepen, ”Jaishankar tweeted.
Beigun’s visit to India comes ahead of the upcoming “2 + 2” talks at the ministerial level of Defense and Foreign Relations between India and the United States.
.
