US fast tracks efforts to boost ties: Envoy meets Nirmala and Rajnath Singh
New Delhi,: The US has put its efforts to boost ties with India especially on economic and defense sectors on fast track and the envoy Ken Juster held a series of important meetings during last two days.
The US ambassador to India met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here on Tuesday.
Previous day, on Monday he had called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and shared his views on the meeting in a tweet saying: “Always a pleasure to meet again with Minister Rajnath Singh. Good discussion on the US India Defense relationship”.
US Navy’s Rear Admiral Francis Morley also arrived here on June 24. “Excellent discussion on our defense cooperation with India and next steps to expand the defense relationship,” Mr Juster had tweeted.
In a statement – Fact Sheet – the US government has highlighted about “the reinvigorated quadrilateral dialogue” between the United States, India, Japan, and Australia and pointed that the four countries have met four times since President Trump took office to discuss ways to strengthen a “rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific in which all nations are sovereign, strong, and prosperous”.
The statement also talks about the second trilateral meeting between the leaders of the United States, India, and Japan (under the JAI arrangements) to be held on the margins of the G20 Summit in Osaka either on June 28 or 29.
The statement hails the first 2+2 Dialogue held in September 2018 in Delhi that had culminated in the announcement of a new tri-service exercise and the signing of a secure communications agreement that will enable India to operationalize its status as a Major Defense Partner.
“We anticipate holding the next 2+2 in late 2019 in Washington, D.C,” it said.
The Fact Sheet said: The United States granted India Strategic Trade Authorization tier 1 status last year, allowing India to enjoy the same license-free access to certain defense articles as NATO allies, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. This status also creates greater supply chain efficiency and supports U.S. industry and investment”.
UNI.