United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated the Trump Administration's message to ally with India, stating that New Delhi is an important partner and a key pillar of President Donald Trump’s foreign policy.
In his virtual keynote address to the annual ‘India Ideas Summit’ of the US India Business Council (USIBC), Pompeo said he was happy to report that India is a “rising” US defense and security partner in the Indo-Pacific and globally.
“We don’t just interact on a bilateral basis. We see each other for what we are great democracies, global powers and really good friends. India is one of the few trusted like-minded countries whose leaders I call on a regular basis for counsel and collaboration on issues that span continents,” Pompeo said.
“I’m confident that our relationship is only getting stronger. Let’s emerge from this current challenge more resilient and innovative than before. And let’s seize this moment to deepen cooperation between two of the world’s greatest democracies,” he added.
Pompeo said the US has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the next G7 meeting to be hosted by President Trump.
“We will advance the economic prosperity network. It is the group of countries and organisations that we consider natural partners with we share values like democracy, transparency and rule of law,” Pompeo said.
The Group of Seven (G-7) is an international intergovernmental economic organisation consisting of seven major developed countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, which are some of the largest IMF-advanced economies in the world.
India, Pompeo said, has a chance to attract global supply chains away from China and reduce its reliance on Chinese companies in areas like telecommunications, medical supplies and others.
The top US diplomat also urged India to encourage a business environment that is "more open" to increased trade and investment from America.
Navies from the US, India, Australia, Japan and France have been deepening their mutual cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region in view of China’s growing attempt to expand military influence in the resource-rich region.
Recently, four frontline warships of the Indian Navy, as well as a US Navy carrier strike group led by nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, participated in the PASSEX military drill off the coast of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.