India and the United States on September 6 (2018) leaped forward to a new level of relationship by making defence cooperation a "key driver" of overall bilateral relationship and both sides also saw a lot of convergence vis-a-vis their role in the Indo Pacific region.
The visiting Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, who along with US Secretary of Defence James Mattis took part in an historic and the inaugural 2 Plus 2 Dialogue with Indian counterparts Sushma Swaraj and Nirmala Sitharaman here, said both sides discussed about how "we can cooperate for a free and open Indo Pacific". He said both India and the US actually have a "responsibility" to promote a free and open Indo Pacific and the values both the nations value - like "the rule of law and national sovereignty".
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| Modi: With Pompeo & Mattis |
The Indo Pacific reference in as many words and more do reflect America's anxious moments vis-a-vis China's influence in the Indo Pacific region. The words from Mr Pompeo, therefore, should be weighed in that context.
Mr Pompeo mentioned about the need to promote good governance, the protection of fundamental freedoms, rights and liberties, free air and reciprocal trade relationship and peaceful resolution to territorial and maritime disputes."We know our people's ability to exercise their economic and personal freedom is based on strong, stable and secured environment," he said to that end both the countries through the deliberations under the aegis of 2 Plus 2 Dialogue has embarked on an ambitous plan to "elevate our security cooperation across a number of areas".
It is worth mentioning that experts in China too has been keeping an eye on growing Indo-US ties.
"The subtext of this strategy of the United States is that it hopes India can play an essential role in balancing the rise of China," commented a Chinese observer in a recent article.
"Does India really want to play the role that the US expects? Don't forget that this strategy has a strong military stance against China. At the very least, it is re-dividing Asia-Pacific with Cold War thinking," the article had said.
Secretary Pompeo - for his part said - "Today our countries entered into an ambitious plan to elevate our security cooperation across a number of areas. The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement is a major step forward in our defence collaboration and coordination. It will allow us to better protect freedom in the Indo-Pacific.”
Just two days before the inaugural Indo-US '2 Plus 2 Dialogue', a top Indian official had said on Tuesday that: "On Indo-Pacific we (India and the US) may not have complete identical views, there are several similarities however".
India, he said, sees Indo Pacific as key to its future from "economic and security sense".
"The Indo-Pacific as such is not a mechanism or even an architect ....... It is concept and an idea in which the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this government believe is linked to India's future in an economic and security sense....Because this is going to be the growth corridor of 15 or thirty years," the official has said.
In her remarks, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: "The defence cooperation has emerged as the most significant dimension of the strategic partnership between two sides".
This will be also a "key driver of our overall bilateral relationship", she said.
"The momentum in defence partnership has given an immense positive energy that has elevated India-US relationship to unprecedented heights," she said.
In this context, she also referred to the remarks made by Mr Modi during his address to the US Congress that the relationship between the two countries has "overcome the hesitation of history".
"Nowhere this is more true than the defence," she said.
Sushma cites Modi-Trump friendship for a favourable response on H1B Visa
The US delegation during the crucial 2 Plus 2 Indo-US Dialogue on Thursday acknowledged the growing role being played by the Indian diaspora in the American polity even as
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj forcefully gave a push urging the US administration to appreciate Indian stance on the vexed Visa issue.
“I have mentioned to Secretary Pompeo that on the basis of the friendship which exists between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, Indian people believe that the US administration will not work against their interest. I believe the the trust of Indians will be upheld,” Ms Swaraj said later.
Sources said US representatives in general appreciated India's stance that the diaspora in the US have been playing key role in the American society and politics. The Indian side was assured that there is a 'review' process on the entire US immigration system and the Visa issue is not yet settled or closed.
The issue was raised by Ms Swaraj underlining the importance of Indian diaspora and she pointed out that addressing the issue will be crucial for people to people relationship.
India, US to establish hotline connections between Defence and Foreign Ministers
New Delhi, Sep 6 (UNI) India and the United States on Thursday agreed to establish a hotline between their Foreign Ministers and Defence Ministers and also worked out a move to undertake tri-services joint military exercises off India's eastern coast in 2019.
"We have agreed to closely monitor the implementation of the decisions taken today. Secretary Pompeo and I decided to remain in touch regularly through the new hotline between the Foreign Ministers that we will establish," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said at the end of the first 2 Plus 2 Dialogue between two countries.
She said similarly, there will be hotline connection two defence ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and her US counterpart Secretary of Defence James Mattis.
In his remarks, Mr Mattis said both sides will continue working together to enhance and expand India's role as "a primary, major defense partner to elevate our relationship to a level commensurate with our closest allies and partners".
Ms Sitharaman said to enhance the synergies in defence ties, Ms Sitharaman said: "We have decided to carry out for the first time a Tri-services joint exercise with the United States off the eastern coast of India in 2019".
"Our discussions were today marked by deep friendship that characterises the relations between two great democracies of the world," she said.
“The commencement of first ever ministry of 2+2 between India & US is a concrete manifestation of the work vision of our leaders Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump to take the relationship to even higher trajectory,” the Minister said.
Both the two countries were "partners" in building defense capability in the broadest sense of the term, Ms Sitharaman remarked.“We have acquired advanced defence platforms from the US," she said.She also said the two countries were putting in place an 'enabling framework' for closer cooperation between defense establishments. She invited US companies to become active partners in India’s efforts to promote local defense industry.
Indo-US talks 'purposeful', Defence the new driver in bilateral ties: Nirmal
India on Thursday said the inaugural '2 Plus 2 Indo US Dialogue' has been "most productive, positive and purposeful" deliberations and that defence will be henceforth a key driver in the overall relationship. Speaking at the end of the talks, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: " The defence cooperation has emerged as the most significant dimension of the strategic partnership between two sides".This will be also a "key driver of our overall bilateral relationship", she said.
"The momentum in defence partnership has given an immense positive energy that has elevated India-US relationship to unprecedented heights," she said and credited the two leaderships Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump for the same.
In this context, she referred to the remarks made by Mr Modi during his address to the US Congress that the relationship between the two countries has "overcome the hesitation of history".
"Nowhere this is more true than the defence," she said.
To enhance the synergies in defence ties, Ms Sitharaman said: "We have decided to carry out for the first time a Tri-services joint exercise with the United States off the eastern coast of India in 2019".
"Our discussions were today marked by deep friendship that characterises the relations between two great democracies of the world," she said.
“The commencement of first ever ministry of 2+2 between India & US is a concrete manifestation of the work vision of our leaders Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump to take the relationship to even higher trajectory,” she said.
India endorses Trump's South Asia policy : Indo-US talks target Pak
India endorsed US President Donald Trump's 'South Asia policy' and said Washington's call to Pakistan to stop "supporting cross border terrorism" is reflective of New Delhi's stand.
"We discussed the situation in South Asia in some detail. India supports President Trump’s South Asia Policy," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in her remarks at the end of the inaugural '2 Plus 2 Dialogue' between two sides.
"His (Trump's) call for Pakistan to stop its policy of supporting cross-border terrorism finds resonance with us," Ms Swaraj said.
Both sides discussed the ongoing efforts by India and the United States in "promoting an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan government-controlled reconciliation process", she said adding that would bring together all ethnic groups and political formation in that country.
"Our counter-terrorism cooperation has acquired a new qualitative edge and purpose," Ms Swaraj remarked and maintained that both the countries also recognized the value of the Terrorists Designations Dialogue established last year as well as other mechanisms to promote cooperation in counter-terrorism and homeland security.
"We have agreed to deepen our cooperation in international forums like the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force," the Minister said.
She also welcomed the recent designations of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists by the United States and said such moves in effect "underscore the international community’s scrutiny over the threat of terrorism emanating from Pakistan".
The terrorism emanating from across the border has "affected India and the United States alike", she said.
"In the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, we recognized the importance of justice and retribution for the masterminds behind this terrorist attack," the Minister said in reference to the deadly terror attack carried out by Pakistan-supported militants in Mumbai in November 2008.
Ms Swaraj referred to the H1B Visa regime and said, "I sought Secretary Pompeo’s support to nurture our people-to-people links. Specifically, I conveyed our expectation for a non-discriminatory and predictable approach to the H1B visa regime, given its high impact on innovation, competitiveness and people-to-people partnership, all of which are a vital source of strength for our relationship".
"At the end of it all, the decision has to be made independently by the government of India. It is not going to be made either under any kind of compulsion that the United States places on us or any kind of compulsion Iran places," the source maintained adding, "it is a decision that somebody cannot impose on us".
The United States said that the visiting delegation is excited about the inaugural 2 Plus 2 Indo-US Dialogue being held here and maintained that the bilateral talks between US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was "excellent"."Excellent meeting with Secretary Pompeo and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on ways to strengthen US India strategic partnership," US Ambassador to India Ken Juster tweeted.Meanwhile, in his opening remarks, Secretary Pompeo said he was "excited to be in Delhi" to engage with the "strategic partner India", sources said.
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written on the eve of 2 Plus 2 Dialogue
India firm on Iran policy, keen to 'know' from US on alternative sources of crude
Sep 5 (UNI) India is firm about its policy on Iran vis-a-vis both the vexed and pressing issues of the oil import and also its nuclear programme and has time and again made its position clear that the government would take 'independent' decision on procuring oil.
Hours before the crucial inaugural of Indo-US 2+2 dialogue on Thursday to be held between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and their respective counterparts US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Defence Secretary James Mattis here, a senior official said here: "Our position has been quite clear on Iran....We have said that we would not like to see Iran become a nuclear weapon state. This is also a concern for the international community, not just the United States".
At the meeting, India would like to sensitise the US team on certain key aspects and would like the visiting term inform about other sources of crude and also the alternative payment mechanisms.
"Firstly, the US side will be sensitised that we are heavily energy-import reliant country..... Eighty three per cent of our energy comes from external sources and out of this, 25 per cent is Iranian crude," he said.
India is also keen to understand from the United States if the oil import is stopped from Iran or reduced, what would be other sources of crude.
"We would also like to know the sources and also the prices....Prices are vital because this will impact consumers and overall economic scenario too".
However, New Delhi is also firm about one thing that Iran "should have access" to usage of civilian nuclear energy.
The observations have their own significance as the India-US high level political interactions covering wide range of issues including strategic and geo-political situation would also dwell at length on Iran.
In June this year, the United States said it will impose sanctions against 'all importers of Iranian oil' by November 4. More than appearing to tough, the announcement was also surprising as it stunned the oil markets and perhaps also likely to alienate the US allies and adversaries further.
On his part, Secretary Pompeo has hinted that while India buying a missile defence system from Russia and oil from Iran would not be the primary focus of the dialogue.
"They will certainly come up, but I don't think they will be the primary focus....Those decisions [Russian missile defence systems and Iran oil export to India] are important to the relationship but I don't see us resolving those or having even intention to resolve those during this set of meetings of strategic dialogue," Pompeo said.
At the parleys on Thursday, it is understood, the Indian side would like to impress upon the visiting US delegation and top leaders that Iran is a "major relation" for New Delhi in the region.
"Our view remains that we support the UN Security Council resolution of 2015 but if there are any issues within the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (on Iran's nuclear programme) then it is for the parties who negotiated the JCPoA to work that out," the source said.
Seeking to clarify the government of India stand on the US threat of sanctions which could come into force from November this year, the source said: "it will have a global impact".
"We are not the only country....even countries like Japan, China, Kore and European Union are talking about it. Similar to them, India is also engaged in talks with the United States on it," the source said.
At the meeting, Indian side would also tell the US leaders and delegation that there are certain 'functional and technical requirements issues'.
"Some of our refineries in India are dependent on certain kinds of crude oil," the source said.
"The idea is to have a discussion with them in which Indian side would try to understand from the US side what their requirements and understanding are. What are their expectations and we explain to them what are our expectations," the official remarked.
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| Nirmala and Mattis: Defence Guards |
"At the end of it all, the decision has to be made independently by the government of India. It is not going to be made either under any kind of compulsion that the United States places on us or any kind of compulsion Iran places," the source maintained adding, "it is a decision that somebody cannot impose on us".
The sources, however, said India will continue to discuss these issues in details with all parties and New Delhi is also in 'discussions' with other parties and nations like the European Union or China or Japan who also discussing the issue with the United States.
"We would also like to know other kinds of payment mechanisms involved," the official added.
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