Following meetings in New Delhi, Indian and United States defense officials agreed Saturday to increase military cooperation.
Observers saw this move to join the militaries closer together to be a preemptive move, in the face of an increasingly expansive China.
“India is an increasingly important partner in rapidly shifting international dynamics. I reaffirm our commitment to a comprehensive forward-looking defense partnership, with India as a central pillar of our approach to the Indo-Pacific region,” said U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin following meetings with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
Austin’s meetings in India follows another meeting last week between leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the United States, who make up the four Indo-Pacific nations, known as the Quad.
Officials seek to use the Quad to counter China, which has been pushing out in the South China Sea, East China Sea, Taiwan Strait and along its northern border with India.
Following the U.S.-India talks, Singh said the meetings sought to “expand military-to-military engagement.”
“We are determined to realize the full potential of a comprehensive global strategic partnership,” Singh said, according to the Associated Press.
After arrivng in New Delhi on Friday, Austin met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
Following the meeting, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office by Modi, “outlined his vision for the strategic partnership between the two countries and emphasized the important role of bilateral defense cooperation in India-U.S. ties.”
The timing of Austin’s visit, after a sometimes tense meeting between the Americans and Chinese in Anchorage, Alaska, reflects the importance President Joe Biden places on New Delhi as a security ally.
