U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will make a four-day trip to South Asia next week. He will visit Indonesia and make stops in India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives to strengthen U.S. relations with allies and partners and seek alliances with other democratic forces to curb China’s expansion in the Indo-Pacific region.
Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Esper will arrive in New Delhi on Monday to meet with Prime Minister Modi and discuss ways to move the United States into a comprehensive global strategic partnership. The two U.S. officials will then meet with India’s External Affairs Minister J.P. Suesson and Defense Minister J.P. Singh for the third U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John Thompson told reporters on a conference call Thursday: “In all meetings, the secretary of state will look for opportunities to push the two countries to expand their partnership in support of mutual interests.”
Tensions are high between the two countries following deadly clashes between Chinese and Indian troops along the border in the Himalayas in June. Both countries have accused each other of crossing the border, sometimes spiraling into conflict.
The issue of the China-India border is also likely to be on the agenda at the 2+2 ministerial meeting.
A State Department official told reporters, “The issue of border control is likely to be discussed at the meeting. We are also closely monitoring the situation. I think both sides have expressed a desire to de-escalate the violence.”
Following their visit to India, Pompeo and Esper will travel to Sri Lanka to meet with President Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Gunawardena to fully emphasize the U.S. commitment to a strong, independent and democratic Sri Lanka and to advance the shared goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
In the third stop, the Maldives, Pompeo will meet with President Soloway and Foreign Minister Shahid to discuss a range of issues, including regional maritime security and counterterrorism, as well as the consolidation of democracy in the Maldives.
The final stop on the trip is Jakarta, Indonesia. Mr. Pompeo will meet with Indonesian President Joko and Foreign Minister Retno.
The visit comes at a time of escalating competition between the United States and China in Southeast Asia, particularly in the South China Sea. China has been increasing its activities in the South China Sea.
The Trump administration has recently taken some strong actions to enable countries like Indonesia to make legitimate claims to their resources,” a U.S. State Department official said in a conference call. Fishing has become one of them, and Indonesia has blocked Chinese fishing boats from illegally entering its waters. So once again, the efforts we’re making give these countries the ability to resist.”
Earlier this week, Reuters, citing senior Indonesian officials familiar with the situation, reported that Indonesia this year rejected a U.S. proposal to allow U.S. P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft to land and refuel in Indonesia. Such reconnaissance aircraft play a central role in monitoring Chinese military activity in the South China Sea, the Indonesian official told Reuters.
Indonesian officials told Reuters that Indonesia has long pursued a neutral foreign policy. Indonesia has never allowed foreign troops to operate in its territory.
Pompeo told reporters on Wednesday, “It is in their best interest to ensure that their sovereignty is protected against the continued violation of their fundamental rights. Those basic rights include their maritime rights, their sovereignty rights, and their ability to trade in their own country the way they do if the Chinese Communist Party continues to threaten their country.”
“The United States has improved relations between the two countries on commercial issues, security issues, and diplomatic issues,” he continued. “But there’s more we can do.”
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