NEWย DELHI: US Stands With India, Says Pompeo Mentions Galwan Incident.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo andย Defenceย secretary Mark Esper arrived in the national capital on 26 October forย 2+2 ministerial dialogueย withย Defenceย Minister Rajnath Singh and with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.ย The visit comes at a time when India and China are locked in a seriousย military conflictย along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.ย The timing of the secretaries’ visit also holds significance as America is going into the presidential election next week on 3 November.ย
Key updates on India, US 2+2 ministerial dialogue:ย
1) Our leaders and citizens see with increasing clarity that the Chinese Communist Party is no friend to democracy, rule of law, transparency… I’m glad to say India & the US are taking all steps to strengthen cooperation against all threats & not just those posed by CCP: Mike Pompeoย
2) the US values India as a multi-lateral partner, whether it is through the quad, making Afghan peace negotiation successful or working together during India’s upcoming term on the UN security council, we continue to support India’s permanent membership of UNSC, says US State Secretary Mike Pompeo.ย
3) US and India are taking steps to strengthen our cooperation against all manner of threats and not just those posed by the Chinese Communist Party. Last year, we have expanded our cooperation on cyber issues, our navies have held joint exercises in the Indian ocean, Pompeo said.ย
4) We visited National War Memorial toย honorย brave men and women of Indian armed forces who sacrificed for the world’s largest democracy, including 20 killed by PLA inย Galwanย Valley. The US will stand with India as they confront threats to their sovereignty, liberty: Mike Pompeoย
5) On Indo-Pacific region was theย main focusย of our talks, Jaishankar said: “The Indo Pacific region was the particular focus of our talks. We reiterated the importance of stability and peace and prosperity for all countries in this region. Discussions also covered developments in ourย neighboringย countries. We made clear that cross-border terrorism is completely unacceptable.”ย
6) As the world confronts a global pandemic and growing security challenges, the India-US partnership is more important than ever to ensure security, stability, and prosperity of the region and the world, says US Secretary ofย Defence, Mark Esper.ย
7) Based on our shared values and common interests, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific for all, particularlyย in light ofย increasing aggression andย destabilizingย activities by China: Mark Esperย
8) On agreeing to rules-based international order, Rajnath Singh said: We also agreed that upholding rules-based international order respecting rule of law and freedom of navigation in the international sea and uploading territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states are essential.
9) Our military to military cooperation is progressing very well. In twoย daysย meeting, we also explored the probable capacity building and otherย joint cooperationย activities in third countries including ourย neighborhoodย and beyond, Singh said.ย
10) I thank the secretaries and US delegation to visit India. We need to recover the economies quickly. We discussed some bilateral issues and signed a keyย defenseย pact, BECA today, says Rajnath Singh.
