US Deputy Secretary calls China "an elephant in the room"; Know More-

New Delhi, October 13: The United States Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun has called China “an elephant in the room” and said like-minded countries and groupings must join hands to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. He added that any country that seeks a free and open Indo-Pacific and is willing to take steps to ensure that should be welcome to work with us.

 

 

 

Addressing the India-US forum in New Delhi, Biegun said that the grouping can be expanded to include other like-minded partners, who are also seeking a free and open Indo-Pacific. He highlighted that the Quad grouping can deepen cooperation with the 10-nation ASEAN bloc in Southeast Asia to defend the freedom of seas.

 

Biegun also said that together we stand for a pluralistic vision that will ensure that our countries, and all the region’s diverse countries, can thrive as sovereign and prosperous nations in a free and open Indo-Pacific. One might call this a vision of a Pax Indo-Pacifica, a region at peace, protected and made prosperous in equal measure by those who comprise the Indo-Pacific.

 

While talking about the US India relationship he said, "Our deep, historic ties & close collaboration span a number of realms, including defense & security cooperation, mutual law enforcement support, trade &investment ties, energy partnership, scientific & technological collaboration."

 

He added, “India has a strong and proud tradition of strategic autonomy, and we respect that. We do not seek to change India’s traditions, adding that rather we want to explore how to empower them and India’s ability to defend its sovereignty and democracy and to advance Indian interests, across the Indo-Pacific region."

 

Further, he added that "As the United States assesses our interests and how they intersect with India’s, we have seen the conditions emerge for an organic and deeper partnership—not an alliance on the postwar model, but a fundamental alignment along with shared security and geopolitical goals, shared interests and shared values."

 

 

The foreign ministers of Quad comprising the US, India, Australia, and Japan met in Tokyo on October 6 during which they agreed to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Deputy Secretary of State held talks on bilateral, regional, and key global issues with a focus on the common vision of the two countries for the Indo-Pacific region.

 

He said that “recent events in the region” reflect that the Indo-US work together in the Quad and other multilateral groupings are “critical pillars”, as “is formalising our cooperation — bilaterally and with others — in more regular and systematic ways that offer benefits to our nations’ security”.

 

Moreover, he further said that the United States has already begun some of these efforts, including increased foreign military sales and intelligence sharing with India. But there is more that we can do, including strengthening India’s ability to defend itself and by promoting interoperability among our militaries through regular exercises and exchanges, common defense platforms, and co-development.

 

“The upcoming 2+2 ministerial meeting between Secretary Pompeo and Minister Jaishankar and their respective defence counterparts will be an excellent opportunity to explore next steps on some of these issues,” he said at the closed-door meeting. “The Quad is a partnership-driven by shared interests, not binding obligations, and is not intended to be an exclusive grouping. Any country that seeks a free and open Indo-Pacific and is willing to take steps to ensure that, should be welcome to work with us.”