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New Delhi-Top Indian and US diplomats promised to expand their multilateral security partnership on Wednesday, emphasizing deepening relations between the two countries concerned about the growing aggression of the Chinese administration in the region.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met in New Delhi to strengthen the regional fronts against Beijing’s coercion in the Indo-Pacific and cooperation in Afghanistan.
They also praised each country’s support in the fight against the coronavirus and stated that their vaccine partnership was an effort to end the pandemic. Blinken also announced a $ 25 million fund to support India’s COVID-19 vaccination program.
“There are few relationships in the world that are more important than the relationship between the United States and India. We are the two major democracies in the world, and our diversity stimulates the power of our country. “I will,” Blinken said at a joint press conference.
Washington does not keep the US desire to support India in isolating the Chinese administration. The two countries have steadily strengthened their military ties and signed a series of defense pacts.
The United States and India are part of the Quad Regional Alliance, which includes Japan and Australia, and are focused on increasing the aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese administration calls the quad an attempt to contain its ambitions.
Blinken’s visit to India will take place a few days after Wendy Sherman, the second US diplomat, was in China.
Blinken said he and Jaishankar also discussed security issues in the region, including Afghanistan, where the United States is expected to complete its military withdrawal in August. He called India’s contribution to Afghanistan’s stability “extremely important.”
Blinken said there was no “military solution” to the conflict in Afghanistan, and if the Taliban terrorists ruled by force, the country would become a “Pariah state.”
“We will continue to work together to maintain the interests of the people of Afghanistan and to support regional stability after the withdrawal of coalition forces from the country,” Blinken said.
Jaishankar said the world wants “independence, sovereignty, democracy and stability of Afghanistan to be peaceful with its own country and its neighbors” It will only be secured if it does not exist. “
New Delhi has often expressed concern that the Taliban takeover could pose a security threat to India.
India has provided operational training and military equipment to Afghan security forces, despite the lack of troops on the ground. It also provides Afghanistan with over $ 2 billion in development assistance.
In June, India’s Foreign Ministry said it had contacted “various stakeholders” in Afghanistan to discuss its future. Recently, officials from both countries have increased mutual visits.
“New Delhi is clearly strengthening the match on the Afghanistan front,” said Michel Kugelman of the Wilson Center’s Asian program based in Washington. “The decision to engage in more regional diplomacy in Afghanistan means a desire to be a player more than it had in the past.”
Blinken talked late Wednesday in a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about pandemics, including quads, security and defense cooperation, and “sharing values and principles of democracy,” a State Department spokesman said. Ned Price said.
Blinken spoke with civil society leaders early in his visit, stating that basic freedom and the rule of law were “democratic beliefs” like the United States and India.
Blinken travels to Kuwait after visiting India.
Epoch Times staff contributed to this report
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