WASHINGTON (CU)_The Pentagon described India as a critical partner in the Indo-Pacific region, ahead of the Quad ministerial meeting which is scheduled to be held on Thursday (Feb 18). The meeting will be held virtually, between the members of an informal strategic forum, featuring the United States, India, Australia and Japan.
“It (India) is a very important bilateral relationship that we have and particularly military-to-military relations. India is a critical partner, especially when you consider all of the challenges in the Indo-Pacific region,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said on Wednesday.
He noted that the Defence Secretary of the United States is prioritising this relationship with the South Asian nation, and hopes to see this cooperation develop and grow stronger between the two countries.
Meanwhile, India’s ambassador to the US, Taranjit Sing Sandhu said that deepening the defense and strategic partnership, as well as trade and investment relations with Washington constituted an important area of cooperation.
“This will be particularly important in Asia where we will work bilaterally and with like-minded partners to pursue a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, while advancing the security and economic interests of countries with legitimate and vital interests in the region. And we will build on the deepening trade and investment linkages that create economic opportunities and jobs in both countries,” the ambassador said.
According to Ned Price, the spokesperson for the US State Department, the Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be joined by his counterparts from the other member states of the Quad, in the “critical” discussion to advance shared goals of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“This discussion with the Quad foreign ministers is critical to advancing our shared goals of a free and open Indo-Pacific and rising to the defining challenges of our time, including coordinating our efforts on COVID-19 response as well as climate change,” he said.
