Tag - US

India became partners with Russia as US couldn’t do it earlier: US Secretary of State Blinken

Russia became India’s partner of choice out of necessity when the United States was not in a position to be a partner said US secretary of state Antony Blinken while testifying before the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee.

The remarks came when Senator William Hagerty sought Blinken’s views on the India-US relationship from US secy of state Antony Blinken.

“In the case of India, there is a relationship that goes back decades. And Russia, for India, was out of necessity a partner of choice when we were not in a position to be a partner,” he told Senators on Wednesday.

He stated that they are investing in the effort to grow the strategic convergence between the US and India.

“Now, we are an we are investing in that effort. I think there is a growing strategic convergence between the United States and India. And of course, China is a big part of that,” Blinken said.

Senator Hagerty asked Blinken, “What concrete steps United States and India could take to deepen our strategic alliance?”

“I think this partnership has the potential to be one of the most important and foundational partnerships that we have going forward over the next decades. This has actually been a success story of multiple administrations. Going back to the end of the Clinton administration, through the Bush administration…,” Blinken replied.

Talking about the Quad Blinken said, “We have energised the Quad that brings India together with Australia and Japan and us. This has been a very important vehicle for strengthening our collaboration across a whole variety of fronts with India.”

Blinken further stated, “This is a moment of strategic inflection, by which I mean this. A number of countries are now relooking at some of their relationships and some of their interests, particularly when it comes to their relationship with Russia.”

Rajnath Singh Invites US Companies To Carry Out Joint R&D, Manufacturing & Maintenance

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh invited US companies to carry out joint R&D, manufacturing and maintenance of defence equipment to achieve the vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.

The Defence Minister was addressing the members of the American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM India) through video conferencing during its 30th Annual General Meeting on April 21, 2022. He invited the US companies for co-production, co-development, investment promotion and development of Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facilities in India.

“Of late, some US companies have expanded their local presence in partnership with Indian industry to achieve our aim of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’. We believe this is just a beginning. With increasing business, we aspire for increased investments by US companies in India. Making full use of the Industrial Security Agreement, we need to facilitate collaboration & indigenisation of defence technology and boost the participation of US and Indian companies in each other’s defence supply chains. American companies are welcome to establish manufacturing facilities in India,” said Rajnath Singh.

Rajnath Singh listed out a number of initiatives taken by the Government to facilitate partnerships between major Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEMs) and Indian companies.

“From increase in FDI limit to improving ease of doing business and from encouraging innovation through the iDEX platform to an enhanced positive list to give fillip to manufacture in India, the government is sharply focussed on enhancing the share of defence manufacturing, export by India-based companies and joint ventures,” he said.

Rajnath Singh pointed out that US companies have not only been a source of FDI & employment in India, but are also contributing to India’s defence exports, totalling around $2.5 billion to US in last five years, which is 35 per cent of total exports achieved during the period.

The Defence Minister termed the recently held India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington as positive and fruitful, saying that the defence sector is a strong and growing pillar of the bilateral relationship. India and US are uniquely poised to leverage each other’s strengths for a mutually beneficial and bright future, he said.

“Both India and US share a common vision of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region. The India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership is of critical importance for international peace, stability and prosperity,” Rajnath Singh added.

He termed the India-US economic relationship as one of the defining business relationships of the 21st century.

Rajnath Singh added that during the 2+2 Ministerial meeting, India and US confirmed their intent to advance cooperation in Critical and Emerging Technologies such as advanced communication technology, artificial intelligence, quantum science, STEM, semi-conductors and biotechnology.

AMCHAM-India is an association of American business organisations operating in India. Established in 1992, AMCHAM has over 400 US companies as members.

Rajnath Singh, S Jaishankar to lead the Indian delegation at the Fourth India-U.S. 2+2 Dialogue

Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, will visit the United States of America from 11-12 April 2022.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Minister of External Affairs will lead the Indian delegation at the Fourth India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on 11 April 2022 in Washington D.C. The US delegation will be led by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Llyod Austin,

According to a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Dialogue would enable both sides to undertake a comprehensive review of cross-cutting issues in the India-US bilateral agenda related to foreign policy, defence and security with the objective of providing strategic guidance and vision for further consolidating the relationship.

The 2+2 Dialogue will also provide an opportunity to exchange views about important regional and global developments and how we can work together to address issues of common interest and concern.

As part of an ongoing and regular dialogue, the Minister of External Affairs will separately meet his US counterpart Secretary Blinken.

External Affairs Minister is also scheduled to meet senior members of the U.S. Administration to further advance the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

India, US discuss mutual regional issues including Indo-Pacific, Ukraine situation

On Monday Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland co-chaired India-US Foreign Office Consultations (FOC).

Two sides followed up on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s discussions with President Joseph R. Biden in Washington D.C in September 2021, the two sides reviewed progress in various domains under the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

In the consultation both sides discussed issues regarding the situation in Ukraine. Developments in the South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region, West Asia were also discussed.

Both sides welcomed regular high-level dialogue and engagement, including productive meetings of bilateral mechanisms which led to intensifying of cooperation across all pillars of the bilateral agenda.

“The FOC provided a valuable opportunity to discuss contemporary regional issues pertaining to South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region, West Asia, and the situation in Ukraine, among others. Foreign Secretary Shringla and Under Secretary of State Nuland agreed to maintain regular dialogue and consultations on regional issues,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. They also followed up on Quad Leaders’ meeting and are eager to implement Quad’s positive and constructive agenda in Indo-Pacific region.

“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Following up on the Quad Leaders’ Meetings, they expressed a keen desire to implement quickly the Quad’s positive and constructive agenda to deliver for countries in the Indo-Pacific region,” the statement said.

Both sides agreed to work together to strengthen the India-US partnership regarding health security, climate actions and terrorism.

“Given their shared democratic values and convergences of strategic interests, Foreign Secretary Shringla and Under Secretary Nuland agreed to work together to strengthen the India-US global partnership regarding supply chains, critical technologies, health security, climate actions & clean energy and terrorism,” it said.

The statement said they noted the close cooperation between their two delegations at the UN Security Council, where India is currently a non-permanent member, and reiterated their desire to intensify cooperation in multilateral fora and international organisations, including the UN.

The statement further said, “Both sides looked forward to the India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Meeting in Washington D.C. They agreed to hold the next FOC at a mutually convenient date in Washington D.C.”