India-US relations scaling new heights, claims US State Secretary -

New Delhi: US State Secretary Mike Pompeo is currently on a visit to India, and he met the Indian Prime Minister and the National Security Advisor. Pompeo said that he also held profound discussions not only on bilateral but also regional and international issues, with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. The United States does not limit Indian relations only to bilateral issues. Pompeo said that both India and the United States are democratic countries and claimed that now the relations between the two countries have scaled new peaks. At the same time, US State Secretary made a suggestive statement that friends can have a difference of opinion on certain issues, clarifying that there were differences in the matters like the S-400 purchase from Russia, the crude India is purchasing from Iran and certain other issues.

The United States had warned that India would have to face US sanctions if it purchased the S-400 air defence system from Russia. Another US demand is that India should completely stop crude oil import from Iran. The Foreign Ministers of both countries discussed these issues. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar clarified that India would take decisions in these matters, keeping its own interests in view. The disputed issued have clearly featured in the joint declaration, issued by both the Foreign Ministers. The US State Secretary said that he was aware of the background for the Indian decisions, and these differences will not come in the way of Indo-US cooperation.

The US State Secretary blamed Iran of being a sponsor of terrorism. US State Secretary assured ‘India has reduced the quantities of crude being purchased from Iran. The United States is aware of this. The United States will take proper precautions for India’s fuel security.’ Whereas, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar clarified that the Indian stand regarding Iran was different and there is a difference of opinion with the United States. But despite this, both the leaders stressed in the joint press conference that both the countries concurred on the majority of the issues. The Foreign Ministers of both the countries indicated that India and the United States have the same opinion about taking a firm stand against the Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Indian Prime Minister and the US President are expected to hold talks during the G-20 summit to be held in Japan, on 28th and 29th June. As per information, a trilateral meeting of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, will also be held during the summit.

Security of the Indo-Pacific sector will be the central issue, during the trilateral meeting. Nearly all the countries in the world have started accusing China of creating instability in the Indo-Pacific sector, misusing its might. The United States has prepared to counter Chinese aggression by increasing patrolling by its warships. Japan too, is retaliating by increasing the military strength and movements. The United States and Japan are demanding that India too, using its influence in the region, should contribute to stability and security of the region.

The United States changed the name of its Pacific command to Indo-Pacific command. This development is an indication of a major shift in the policies of the United States.