October 19, 2017: The United States has said that President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are committed to building an “ambitious” partnership that benefits not just their countries but also other nations working towards peace and stability.
US Secretary of State Rex W Tillerson said this yesterday, in a major India policy speech before the Center for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS, ahead of his maiden visit to India next week.
Tillerson made an impassioned plea for closer ties with India while casting China as a threat to the world order and saying Pakistan needed to do more to fight terrorism.
Tillerson also supported New Delhi’s opposition to One-Belt One-Road initiative of China. India is opposed to the project as it passes through Pak-occupied Kashmir.
He also said China’s financing of the infrastructure projects results in enormous level of debt and underscored the need for an alternative financing model.
Speaking on defence ties with India, the top US diplomat said US values the role India can play in global security and stability and are prepared to ensure they have even greater capabilities.
He said Washington has offered a number of proposals to India in the defence sector that can be “potential game changers” for the bilateral commercial and military cooperation.
Tillerson said his visit could not have come at a more promising time for the US-India partnership, as this year marks the 70th anniversary of relations between our two countries. (AIR News)
