New Delhi (NVI): India and the US can make a real difference by working together in respect of regional and global challenges or in the context of respecting territorial integrity, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said today, against the backdrop of Chinese aggression on the Ladakh border.
Jaishankar was speaking at the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue here between India and the US which was also attended by American Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Secretary of Defence Mark Esper along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
In his initial remarks at the meeting, Jaishankar said, “we live in a more uncertain world with much greater stresses and sharper faultlines. For most countries, that means giving security a greater salience in their foreign policy. As major powers, this is even more so in our case.”
He noted that over the last two decades, the Indo-US bilateral relationship has grown steadily in its substance, facets and significance.
“The accompanying comfort levels today enable us to engage much more intensively on matters of national security. This format is clearly tailored to that purpose,” the Indian External Affairs Minister said.
“At a time when it is particularly important to uphold a rules-based international order, the ability of India and the US to work closely in defence and foreign policy has a larger resonance,” he said.
“Together, we can make a real difference when it comes to regional and global challenges, whether it is in respecting territorial integrity, promoting maritime domain awareness, countering terrorism or ensuring prosperity,” Jaishankar said.
Although he did not elaborate on the regional and global challenges or on the aspect of “respecting territorial integrity”, the indication was clearly towards the Chinese aggression on the Ladakh border with an aim of changing the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
China launched the aggression in May and has amassed over 50,000 troops along with heavy artillery and air assets along the LAC. India has also mobilised the matching number of troops and military assets to meet the challenge.
This is the third 2+2 Ministerial meeting between the two sides in two years, which reflects the commitment to forge closer cooperation on strategic matters.
