China, Russia Concerned Over Strengthening India-America Relationship: US (image @RichardRVerma)
China and Russia voiced concern over the thickening India-US relationship, said a US diplomat. Speaking at the Hudson Institute, Richard Verma, the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, said strengthening ties promotes inclusivity, peace, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, along with valuing diverse voices in society.
He said the relations between India and the US are in a very “different mode” than how some of the other adversaries of Washington operate. He said this is why US President Joe Biden described the relationship between both countries as the “defining relationship of this century.”
Also Read: Huge Disappointment: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Criticises PM Modi Meeting Putin
“Frankly, why do you think China and Russia are so concerned about this partnership? Because we bring a way of life to the rest of the world, that is about inclusivity, about peace, about the peaceful resolution of disputes, about the rule of law, and it’s about hearing everyone’s voice in a society,” he said.
Verma recalled that nearly 20 years ago, when he stood with then-Senator Biden and staff director Tony Blinken in the Senate, Biden had remarked that if the US and India were the closest friends and partners by 2020, the world would be a safer place.
“Not just because we have two big militaries, not just because we have two big economies, but because we actually stand for something that matters to people in their daily lives across the world,” said Verma.
As a response to a question on QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue), Verma said it aims to promote peace, security, stability, and prosperity.
“I look at what the QUAD has, the kinds of statements and pronouncements it’s made on technology, for example, technology for good, not to harass, not to surveil, not to misinform, laying out a set of key principles, going even further on some of our work on quantum computing and cybersecurity,” he said.
When I look at what the QUAD has said and done on energy transition, trade, and rule-based order, I don’t think it has to take on a military character. Indians are not supportive of that. Frankly, I don’t think we need that. I think there are other venues to deal with core military issues,” he said.
Also Read: “We Would Urge India…”: US Reacts On Modi-Putin Meeting In Russia
He said it is about like-minded countries, two of which are treaty allies of the United States, coming together in a different form, in a different architecture, bringing in the most populous country in the Indo-Pacific to actually chart some new territory that we hadn’t charted before.
“I think it has positive impact to security without being a treaty-based security organisation. There’s great promise and excitement in the QUAD. I think this weekend’s meeting will be quite significant. It’ll be historic. QUAD will continue to just build in many ways,” said the top American diplomat.
Biden will host the fourth in-person QUAD leaders summit at his Delaware residence next week, in a rare gesture for his counterparts from Australia, India, and Japan, a presidential spokesperson announced. India, which was scheduled to host QUAD this year, would host the summit next year.
