US supports India’s rise as a superpower: Senior State Department official

A US State Department official said on Wednesday that the US supports India’s emergence as a superpower and it will prove to be important in serving American interests in the coming years. His statement came on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-level talks with President Joe Biden at the White House. Noting that India and the US see each other as major security partners in the Indo-Pacific region, the official said the bilateral relationship is deeper and wider than ever before. The US supports India’s emergence as a superpower, and will play a central role in ensuring US interests in the years to come, the official said. Our relationship is deeper and wider than ever before. We saw this during the Covid pandemic, working together in the Quad.

According to the official, talks will take place on six main topics during Prime Minister Modi’s visit, including defence, technology, trade, innovation, education and travel. The official said some encouraging announcements are expected during Prime Minister Modi’s visit, including trade, education and travel cooperation. Asked about some industrial package being announced after the Modi-Biden talks, the official said, “I don’t want to go ahead with tomorrow’s announcements, but we are discussing some technology, I hope.” Tomorrow you will see a lot more about this relationship and India’s potential as a defense manufacturer. You will hear announcements about (co-production of) military equipment tomorrow.” The official said bilateral trade has doubled in the last nine years.

On India’s dependence on Russian arms, the official said, “In 2008 we did not sell much to India, but in 2020 exported USD 20 billion and it is increasing every year.” We are not alone–many other partners are working in India,…we are doing co-production cum development (of defense products) in India. At the same time, you are seeing large military equipment deals from Russia being canceled because (we know) Russia cannot provide it.” The official said India is in the process of diversifying its dependence on a single supplier is engaged in On the Ukraine crisis, and asked whether India can play the role of a mediator, the official said that there has been some change in India’s stand on the Russia-Ukraine war in the last several months. The official said, “India has a long history of relations with Russia. I think it is a positive thing that Modi has said that it (Ukraine crisis) should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

He said, “I think you will also see that while the United States and India have different views on our policies on Russia and Ukraine, we share the belief that this should be resolved through diplomacy and that it should end with the United Nations.” Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year, Modi has held several talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during which he discussed the conflict. Emphasis has been placed on finding a solution through dialogue and diplomacy. Responding to a question on buying oil from Russia at a discounted price, the official said that on several occasions in the past, India has bought Russian crude oil at half the price. “If we, as a global community, want to deny Russia the resources it needs to fight the Ukraine war, someone has to buy it at a very low cost,” the official said.

Disclaimer:IndiaTheNews has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.