The success of the Indo-Pacific strategy is "impossible" without India: US Supreme Envoy

 

Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Pigeon said the new Indo-Pacific strategy, which reflects the realities of the modern world, focuses on democracies, free markets and the values ​​that India and its people share with the United States and its people.

Washington:

A senior US diplomat said on Monday that the United States is asking India to stand by it for the success of its free and open Indo-Pacific strategy, noting that the Quartet concept has helped New Delhi find a place in the greater Indian Ocean and Pacific theater. .

Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Pigeon said the new Indo-Pacific strategy, which reflects the realities of the modern world, focuses on democracies, free markets and the values ​​that India and its people share with the United States and its people. The US-India Strategic Forum during the Third US Indian Leadership Summit.

The summit organized the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

"In order to achieve that success, we must take advantage of the full scope of the region. This includes the size of the economy, the size of security cooperation, and this is impossible to dispense with India as the cornerstone of the strategy," Pigeon said. .

Pigeon said: "So, as much as I would like to believe that the United States is important to this strategy, it will not be successful for us without India also side by side."

The diplomat noted that India has shown tremendous leadership and interest in contributing to the Indian Ocean and Pacific strategy being advanced by the United States, and said New Delhi and Washington have deepened their security cooperation.

He said that the two countries are looking for a wider economic relationship, including through some dimensions of trade liberalization.

They also work closely in the security field, as India has recently clearly indicated its intention to invite Australia to participate in the Malabar Naval Maneuvers, which will be a huge step forward in ensuring freedom of passage and the security of the seas in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

“So, in many ways, across multiple dimensions, the relationship between the United States and India contributes to this, but you also see it in the personal interactions between Indian leaders and American leaders.

“These relationships have been shaped across different ideological foundations and different political parties over many years. And when you see our leaders together, you can say that the winds are blowing in this direction in both countries, and that will make us really much more than that. Successful with our strategies,” said Mr. Pigeon.

In response to a question, the senior US diplomat said, "The Quartet representing the United States, India, Australia and Japan is a mixture of democracies and also highlights these four parties' sense of responsibility and willingness to assume responsibilities, to expand the benefits of democracy, extend the benefits of economic development, and extend the benefits of security in all Across the region. "

"Of course, the four of us are Pacific powers," he said.

He added that as India grows and its interests increase, New Delhi realizes that it cannot be a negative player in how this has evolved across the Indo-Pacific region.