New Delhi, Oct 28: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh mentioned the military standoff with China along Line of Actual Control (LAC) during 2+2 India-US inter-ministerial talk, saying New Delhi is challenged by "reckless aggression" on the northern border.
According to the transcription of the opening remarks posted on the US State Department website, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Excellencies, in the area of defense we are challenged by reckless aggression on our northern borders"
Singh along with Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper reiterated their commitment "to maintaining a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific built on a rules-based international order, underpinned by ASEAN centrality, rule of law, sustainable and transparent infrastructure investment, freedom of navigation and overflight, mutual respect for sovereignty, and peaceful resolution of disputes."
Further, the ministers reaffirmed that closer India-U.S. cooperation will support shared interests in promoting security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. They also emphasized that the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea should not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of any nation in accordance with international law.
On the other hand, India and the US signed five agreements. The signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for GeoSpatial Cooperation (BECA), along with the previous GSOMIA, LEMOA and COMCASA, makes India a close strategic partner of the US even in the absence of a formal alliance. Pompeo and Esper also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said, “Our comprehensive global strategic partnership stands on a firm foundation of shared principles and common strategic interests.”
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