A joint statement issued after the third 2 + 2 talks between India and the US, between the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries, spoke of strengthening ties in health in the context of the covid-19 pandemic. , the resilience of the supply chain, in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, defense and innovation in defense, counterterrorism, energy, space, cybersecurity and education.
The ministers looked forward to the conclusion of a comprehensive memorandum of understanding between the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including its component agencies and departments. , to improve health cooperation, including health emergencies and pandemics, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and biomedical research and innovation, “the statement said.
In the “Quad” bringing together India, the US, Australia and Japan, the statement said that four ministers “welcomed the fact that these consultations would now be held annually. They expressed their support to further strengthen Quad cooperation. through expanded activities, including initiating a dialogue between development organizations in partner countries, “he said.
However, the centerpiece of the visit was the signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) that will allow the sharing of high-end military technology, geospatial maps and classified satellite data between the Indian and US military. The data will allow India to map precise enemy positions during any potential border conflict, analysts say.
The pact comes as India is embroiled in a tense military confrontation with China. That the Secretary of State of the United States, Mike Pompeo, and the Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, traveled to New Delhi in person at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the middle of India’s military confrontation with China over the talks 2 + 2 is considered a sign of warmth. Delhi now shares with Washington.
“With the signing of the last of the four founding agreements, India has formally become a close defense partner of the United States. Making this ‘soft alliance’ meaningful in practice will be more challenging, as the US military typically collaborates with treaty-based allies, “said Brahma Chellany, an analyst with the New York-based Policy Research Center think tank. Delhi in a Twitter post, referring to the pacts India and the US have signed before, which include a logistical support pact and another to acquire specialized equipment for encrypted communications for US military platforms.
In his remarks at the end of the talks, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar underlined the growing convergences between New Delhi and Washington.
“The 2 + 2 dialogue has a pol-mil (political-military) agenda that underlines our close bilateral relationship. Our national security convergences have obviously grown in a more multipolar world. We are meeting today not only to advance our own interests, but to ensure that our bilateral cooperation makes a positive contribution on the world stage, “said Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in his remarks at the end of the talks 2 + 2.
In a not-so-subtle message to China, Jaishankar said: “The Indo-Pacific region was a particular focus of our talks.”
“We reiterate the importance of peace, stability and prosperity for all countries in this region,” he said in a possible reference to tensions sparked by China’s aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, in addition to India’s own border confrontation. with China. “As Raksha Mantri (Defense Minister Rajnath Singh) said, this is only possible if the rules of international order are respected, freedom of navigation in international seas is guaranteed, open connectivity is promoted, and territorial integrity and integrity are respected. sovereignty of all states. “He said.” A multipolar world must have a multipolar Asia as its foundation, “Jaishankar added pointedly, seen as a sign that New Delhi would not accept China’s hegemony or aggression.
Pompeo and Esper named China in their comments, the first referring to the violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh on June 15. “The United States will stand with India when it faces threats to its sovereignty and freedom,” Pompeo said.
“The challenge of the pandemic that came from Wuhan also fueled discussions about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),” he said. “Our leaders and our citizens see more clearly that the CCP is not a friend of democracy, the rule of law, transparency, freedom of navigation and the free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Pompeo added.
Esper in his remarks said that the U.S.-India partnership was most important in the context of a world facing a global pandemic and mounting security challenges.
“Based on our common values and interests, we stand shoulder to shoulder in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific for all. Particularly in the face of increasing aggression and destabilizing activities by China, “he said.
Singh, for his part, noted that India and the US had agreed to place Indian officers in the US Central Command, which oversees operations in Central Asia and Pakistan, as well as the US Africa Command. , In addition to increasing the scope and complexity of bilateral military exercises.
“At today’s meeting we also explored the likely capacity building and other joint cooperation activities in third countries, including our neighborhood and beyond. We have converging views on several of these proposals and we will take them forward, “Singh added.
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