US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland holds talks with EAM S Jaish

New Delhi: US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland is visiting India. She met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and held discussions. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar informed that discussions were held with Nuland on the Indian subcontinent, Indo-Pacific region and the two countries’ shared interests. Analysts are closely watching the visit of Victoria Nuland, who has said that the US should accept the responsibility of reducing India’s dependence on Russian weapons by giving India an alternative.

US Under Secretary of State Nuland arrived in India after visiting Nepal. After India, she will visit Sri Lanka and Qatar. Before embarking on her tour, Victoria Nuland made eye-catching statements in a hearing before the US House committee. Considering the poor performance of Russian weapons and defence equipment in the war in Ukraine, India’s interest in it must have waned, the US representative had commented. Speaking on it, Victoria Nuland said she believes that the US should provide an alternative to reduce India’s dependence on Russian weapons. Nuland said she would take up this issue in his upcoming visit to India.

Nuland arrived in India on Tuesday and held discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. All the details of the talks have not yet been revealed. It has been clear from time to time that the US is eager to provide advanced weapons and defence equipment to India. But India has not responded to any proposal received from the US in this regard. India has purchased combat and military transport helicopters, surveillance aircraft, and Reaper drones from the US. But the US has much higher expectations from India.

The US expects India to buy fighter planes, submarines and warships from the US and India should also consider American companies for air defence systems. However, India has purchased Rafale aircraft from France for its Air Force and it is claimed that India has taken steps to purchase the naval version of the Rafale for aircraft carrier warships as well. Also, in the future, India is not interested in becoming a buyer of defence equipment and weapons, but India has started preparations for its domestic production.

Realizing this desire of India, Russia and France have decided to transfer technology related to defence equipment to India. But it was already clear that the US was not ready for this. In such a situation, strategic analysts worldwide watch India’s response to Victoria Nuland’s efforts to make India choose the American option instead of Russian weapons and defence equipment.

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