Washington: Calling India a ‘critical ally’, two influential US senators have asked the new Defence Secretary Ashton Carter to place a special emphasis on deepening the US-India defence relationship.
“The US strategic partnership with India is among our nation’s most important,” wrote Republican John Cornyn and Democrat Mark Warner, co-chairs of bipartisan Senate India Caucus, in a joint letter on Friday to Carter.
The US “has a broad array of strategic interests in the region, from the long-term security and stability of Afghanistan to our strategic pivot to the Asia-Pacific,” they wrote.
“Our partnership with India is critical as we focus on strengthening America’s long-term role in the region.”
“As you consider a wide range of important strategic and defence issues during your tenure as Secretary, we ask that you place a special emphasis on India as a critical ally.”
“We believe that focusing on cultivating India as a strategic ally now will pay great dividends for both nations over the long run,” wrote Cornyn and Warner.
They expressed “our strong support” for the US-India defence relationship, as well as the commitments made by the Obama Administration to enhance the strategic partnership with India during President Barack Obama’s January visit to India.
“The renewal of the ten-year framework for the US-India defence relationship is an important component to help solidify these strategic interests,” Cornyn and Warner wrote.
Former Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, they wrote “correctly recognized that this renewal “signal[s] a new depth and sophistication in our defence and security cooperation, ensuring that it continues to be one of the strongest pillars of our nations’ broad strategic partnership – a partnership that will help forge security and stability in Asia and across the globe.”
“The results of our defence partnership have already proved fruitful,” Cornyn and Warner wrote noting “the US and India have cooperated in countering terrorism, combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and bolstering the security of the region.”
Over $10 billion dollars in defence trade deals between the US and India have been signed since 2008, and the two counties now conduct more military exercises with each other than with any other country, they noted. (IANS)
