Interactions between two largest democracies throws light on India-US strategic partnership

News Bharati    26-Jun-2019
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New Delhi, June 26: Extending the hand of friendship and strong bilateral relations with USA, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today conveyed to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that India and the United States have a strategic partnership and that is actually based on deep and broad convergences which have been steadily growing over the last many years. In a joint press interaction, he highlighted that India will go by its national interest while dealing with other countries, including with sanctions-hit Russia. India is procuring S-400 missile defence system from Russia. 

 

Replying to a media query on the issue of sanctions under the US' Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act which may also impact India's procurement of the S400 system from Moscow, Dr. Jaishankar said India has relationships with several countries.

Pompeo said India is an important partner of the US and that the bilateral ties are reaching new heights.

Saying India-US have a strategic partnership based on deep and broad convergence, Dr. Jaishankar said, discussions with Pompeo were held on key issues including energy and trade as well as on the situation in Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific region. He expressed appreciation for the strong support of Trump administration on the issue of terrorism.

Dr. Jaishankar said US Secretary of State shared with him the American concerns on Iran. Dr. Jaishankar said he and Pompeo came out much better informed of each other's concerns in that regard.

Dr. Jaishankar made the point that Indo-Pacific is for peace, security, stability, and prosperity and not against anybody. He said they are looking at a landscape where a number of independent players work together for what they believe to be global good.

 

On Iran, Dr. Jaishankar said, India has a certain perspective on it and obviously from where we are based. Pompeo said, US-India partnership is already beginning to reach new heights, and the two sides have bolstered the defence cooperation and have solidified the common vision for free and open Indo-Pacific. He said India and the US have grown cooperation in energy, space, and other areas.

The US Secretary of State's meetings with the Indian leadership are the first high-level interactions between the two countries after the return of the Modi government to power last month.

Pompeo's visit comes ahead of a meeting between Modi and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, later this week.