U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (Feb. 8, 2021) to express their determination to work together to fight the new crown pandemic and combat climate change. The two men also discussed regional security matters.
In a press release, the White House said the two leaders agreed to continue to work closely together to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including support for freedom of navigation operations, territorial integrity, and a stronger regional security regime through the mechanism of the Quadripartite Talks.
The former Trump administration saw India as a key ally in addressing the Chinese Communist Party‘s challenge, and during his presidency introduced a new concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, reinvigorating the Quadripartite Talks between the United States, Japan, Australia and India and extending the mechanism to the security arena in response to the Communist Party’s increasingly aggressive foreign expansion.
This press release from the Biden Administration‘s White House indicates that the new administration will continue some of the strategies and approaches used by the previous administration in dealing with the Chinese Communist Party’s security threats, particularly by joining forces with regional allies and partners, including India, to combat the Chinese Communist challenge.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the U.S. Congress in June 2016 in the presence of then-Vice President Joe Biden (back row, left). (Reuters)
Modi tweeted after his call with Biden, “The President of the United States and I are committed to a rules-based international order. We look forward to strengthening our strategic partnership to advance peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and the world.”
Late last month, in a call with Indian Defense Minister Singh, new U.S. Defense Secretary Austin said the U.S.-India defense relationship has made great strides and pledged to work with India’s defense minister to continue the progress.
Sources familiar with the matter said the two defense ministers spoke of the Chinese Communist Party in the context of “geopolitical developments and the broader context of India’s and the United States’ strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
U.S. and Indian service members participate in joint training (U.S. Army photo, Sept. 24, 2018)
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