US, India agree to expand multilateral security partnership – KIRO 7 News Seattle

NEW DELHI – (AP) – The top diplomats of India and the United States on Wednesday pledged to expand their multilateral security partnership, underscoring the deepening of ties between two countries concerned about China’s growing influence in the region.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met in New Delhi and tried to strengthen a regional front against Beijing’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific and their cooperation in Afghanistan.

They also praised each country’s help in fighting the coronavirus, saying their vaccine partnership was an attempt to end the pandemic.

“There are few relationships in the world more important than those between the US and India. We are the two leading democracies in the world and our diversity strengthens our national strength, ”said Blinken at a joint press conference.

Washington has made no secret of the US desire for India to help isolate China. The two countries have steadily expanded their military ties and signed a number of defense agreements.

The US and India are part of the Quad Regional Alliance, which also includes Japan and Australia, and focuses on China’s growing economic and military strength. China has called the quad an attempt to contain its ambitions.

Blinken’s visit to India comes just days after U.S. diplomat No. 2, Wendy Sherman, was in China.

Blinken said he and Jaishankar had also discussed regional security issues, including Afghanistan, where the US is expected to complete its military withdrawal in August. He called India’s contribution to the stability of Afghanistan “vital”.

Blinken said there was no “military solution” to the conflict in Afghanistan and that the country would turn into a “pariah state” if the Taliban took control by force.

“We will continue to work together to maintain the achievements of the Afghan people and to support regional stability after the withdrawal of the coalition forces from the country,” said Blinken.

Jaishankar said the world wanted an “independent, sovereign, democratic and stable Afghanistan in peace with itself and with its neighbors” and warned that the “independence and sovereignty of the country can only be guaranteed if it is free from evil influences.” “.

New Delhi has often raised concerns that a Taliban takeover could pose security threats to India.

India provided Afghan security forces with operational training and military equipment even though it had no troops on the ground. It has also provided more than $ 2 billion in development aid to Afghanistan.

In June, the Indian Foreign Ministry announced that it was in contact with “various actors” in Afghanistan to discuss its future. More recently, officials from both countries have stepped up visits to each other.

“New Delhi is clearly stepping up its game on the Afghan front,” said Micheal Kugelman of Washington’s Wilson Center’s Asia program as in the past. “

At a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Wednesday, Blinken spoke about the pandemic, security and defense cooperation, including Quad, and “shared values ​​and democratic principles,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ned Price.

At the beginning of his visit, Blinken spoke to civil society leaders, saying that fundamental freedoms and the rule of law are “principles of democracies” like the US and India.

Opponents of Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist party have accused her of suppressing dissenting opinions and introducing divisive policies that discriminate against Muslims and other minorities. Modi has also been accused of trying to silence critical voices about his government’s handling of the pandemic.

India routinely denies criticism of its human rights record. It has also rejected criticism from foreign governments and human rights groups that civil liberties in the country have shrunk.

“We believe that all people deserve to have a voice in their government and to be treated with respect, no matter who they are,” said Blinken.

However, experts say human rights concerns will not fundamentally affect US-India relations.

“With all the rhetoric promoting the shared values ​​that drive the partnership, it really boils down to shared interests,” said Kugelman. “Ultimately, the relationship will have no problem working on all cylinders as long as China’s rise continues to be a shared concern.”

Blinken travels to Kuwait after his visit to India.

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