“Let’s seize this moment to deepen cooperation between two of the world’s greatest democracies.”
– U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, July 22, 2020
Secretary Michael R. Pompeo will travel to New Delhi, India, October 26-27, 2020, where he and Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper will meet with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh for the U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. Secretary Pompeo will also meet with Prime Minister Modi and hold discussions with other government and business leaders on ways to advance the U.S.-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
THE U.S.-INDIA RELATIONSHIP: ROOTED IN DEMOCRATIC TRADITIONS AND GROWING IN NEW STRATEGIC DIMENSIONS
- The United States and India have a strong and growing bilateral relationship built on shared values and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
- As the world’s oldest and largest democracies, the United States and India enjoy deeply rooted democratic traditions. The growth in the partnership reflects a deepening strategic convergence on a range of issues. Our cooperation is expanding in important areas including health, infrastructure development, energy, aviation, science, and space.
- Holding the third U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in just over two years demonstrates high-level commitment to our shared diplomatic and security objectives.
- President Trump made a historic visit to India earlier this year, speaking in Ahmedabad before over 100,000 people. Secretary Pompeo’s visit marks the fourth visit to India by a Secretary of State during the Trump Administration.
INDIA IS A REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEADER
- As outlined in our National Security Strategy, the United States welcomes India’s emergence as a leading regional and global power. The United States looks forward to collaborating closely with India during its upcoming term on the UN Security Council.
- The recent Quadrilateral Ministerial meeting in Tokyo convened by Secretary Pompeo and his counterparts from India, Japan, and Australia, demonstrated the strong cooperative ties among Indo-Pacific democracies interested in strengthening a rules-based order in which all nations are sovereign, strong, and prosperous. The Quad has proven to be an effective multilateral mechanism, helping to create resilient supply chains, promote transparency, counter disinformation, and increase maritime security.
- India, with its large economy, strong support for entrepreneurship and innovation, and its growing international trade, is one of the world’s leading economic powers and is well positioned to promote our shared vision for a free and rules-based Indo-Pacific where all nations can prosper.
OUR DEFENSE AND SECURITY COOPERATION IS INCREASINGLY STRONG
- We are expanding cooperation between our two militaries. This includes our navies, which play a critical role in ensuring freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
- In July 2020, the Indian Navy successfully completed a passing exercise with the U.S. Navy as the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group transited through the Indian Ocean Region.
- In 2019, the U.S. and India held their first-ever tri-service exercise, Tiger Triumph, in which the U.S. Navy and Marines, Air Force, and Army participated in a bilateral exercise with their Indian counterparts. The United States welcomes Australia joining the Malabar naval exercise alongside India and Japan.
- Defense trade has increased significantly over the past two decades. India maintains the largest fleets of C-17 and P-8 aircraft outside of the United States, and as of 2020 the United States has authorized more than $20 billion in defense sales to India.
- The United States and India enjoy robust defense industrial cooperation. Through the U.S.- India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative, the United States and India work together on co-production and co-development of defense equipment.
