News Analysis India

Tag: India US ties

  • US Navy’s freedom of navigation operation in Indian EEZ without consent concerns nation

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON: In an unusual move, the US Navy has announced that this week it conducted a freedom of navigation operation in Indian waters without prior consent to challenge India’s “excessive maritime claims”, triggering a reaction from New Delhi, which on Friday said it has conveyed concerns to Washington through diplomatic channels.

    The Ministry of External Affairs also contested the US Navy’s 7th Fleet statement of April 7 that the freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) by the guided missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones “upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses” of the sea recognised in international law by challenging India’s “excessive maritime claims”.

    “India’s stated position on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is that the Convention does not authorise other states to carry out in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and on the continental shelf, military exercises or manoeuvres, in particular those involving the use of weapons or explosives, without the consent of the coastal state,” the MEA said.

    “The USS John Paul Jones was continuously monitored transiting from the Persian Gulf towards the Malacca Straits.

    We have conveyed our concerns regarding this passage through our EEZ to the government of USA through diplomatic channels,” the MEA said.

    Announcing about the operation, the statement by the 7th Fleet said,”this freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognised in international law by challenging India’s excessive maritime claims.”

    “On April 7, 2021 (local time) USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) asserted navigational rights and freedoms approximately 130 nautical miles west of the Lakshadweep Islands, inside India’s exclusive economic zone, without requesting India’s prior consent, consistent with international law,” the statement said.

    India requires that other countries should take prior consent from it to conduct military exercises or manoeuvres in its EEZ or continental shelf, which the US Navy statement claimed was inconsistent with international law.

    Asserting that the US forces operate in the Indo-Pacific region on a daily basis, the statement said “all operations are designed in accordance with international law and demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows.”

    “We conduct routine and regular FONOPs, as we have done in the past and will continue to in the future.

    FONOPs are not about one country, nor are they about making political statements,” it added.

  • Elevating defence partnership with India priority of Biden admin: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  India’s current security challenges like tension with China on the Line of Actual Control and human rights were among issues that figured in talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Defence Secretary Llyod Austin, who is on a two-day trip to India, on Saturday.

    Sources said that Austin raised the issue of human rights during his meeting with Jaishankar and said that “as the two largest democracies in the world, human rights and values are important to us and we will lead with these values”.

    Sources added that Jaishankar agreed and emphasised that a strong relationship between the two democracies was not only important for both countries but for the rest of the world as well.

    Later, at a media briefing, Austin said, “India is our partner whose partnership we value. And I think partners need to be able to have those kinds of discussions. And certainly, we feel comfortable in doing that and you can have those discussions in a very meaningful way and still make progress.”

    The issue of human rights was raised amid global concerns raised over the government’s handling of the farmer protest, alleged persecution of minorities and independent voices being gagged. Ahead of Llyod’s visit, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had written to the defence secretary urging him to take up the issue during his visit.

    On India-China tension, Austin said in his press briefing that the US never thought the two countries were on the brink of war. Sources said that during the meeting that lasted an hour, the two leaders also discussed the importance of the Indo-Pacific region and the Afghanistan situation in detail. 

    Earlier, Austin held talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the two countries decided to increase interaction between their armed forces, specifically with the US military commands having their operations into the Indian Ocean Region, Eastern Coasts of Africa and the Gulf.

    “We reviewed the wide gamut of bilateral and multilateral exercises and agreed to pursue enhanced cooperation with the US Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and Africa Command. Acknowledging that we have in place the foundational agreements, LEMOA, COMCASA and BECA, we discussed steps to be taken to realise their full potential for mutual benefit,” Singh said.

    The defence minister quoted the recent Quad summit resolve to maintain a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. Both India and the US share concerns over increased maritime activities including the patrolling by the Chinese warships and submarines into Indian Ocean Region and Indo-Pacific region.

    Singh said the discussions focussed on wide-ranging defence cooperation and expanding military-to-military engagement across services, information sharing, cooperation in emerging sectors of defence and mutual logistics support. This is the first official visit abroad by a top functionary of the new Biden administration.

    Convey message of commitment

    Austin said his visit was about conveying the Biden administration’s message of the US’s strong commitment to its allies and partners. “India is an increasingly important partner amid today’s rapidly shifting international dynamics,” he said

    Looking for like-minded allies

    The US Defense Secretary He said there was discussion on engagement with like-minded partners through multilateral groupings such as the Quad and ASEAN. The 10-nation ASEAN is a key stakeholder in the Indo-Pacific region

    Condoling death of pilot in crash

    Austin condoled the death of a Group Captain of the Indian Air Force in an accident involving a Mig-21 Bison aircraft in Gwalior this week. “I would like to express my condolences for the tragic accident that killed an Indian Air Force pilot,” he said.

  • In phone talks, EAM Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken review developments in Indo-Pacific

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday held a “comprehensive” conversation, focusing on developments in the Indo-Pacific as well as cooperation under the framework of the Quad.

    The telephonic conversation between Jaishankar and Blinken came a day after US President Joe Biden spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time after the new American administration took charge.

    In a tweet, Jaishankar said views on the situation in Myanmar were also exchanged.

    Last week Myanmar’s military grabbed power in a coup against the civilian government.

    “Welcomed the comprehensive discussion today with @SecBlinken. Reviewed Indo-Pacific developments and the Quad cooperation. Exchanged views on the situation in Myanmar. Look forward to remaining in touch,” he said.

    External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Secretary Blinken had held their first telephonic talks on January 29 during which they resolved to consolidate and expand the India-US strategic partnership.

    There have been growing global concerns among leading powers over China’s increasing military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

    Both India and US have been expanding cooperation bilaterally as well as under the framework of Quad with an aim to ensure peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

    The Quad comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia.

    The issue figured in talks between Prime Minister Modi and President Biden.

    “They reiterated the importance of working with like-minded countries to ensure a rules-based international order and a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region,” the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday night.

    In a readout, the White House said Biden and Modi agreed to continuing close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, including support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity, and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad.

    Separately, Jaishankar held talks with National Security Adviser of Tajikistan Mahmudzoda Nasrullo Rahmatjon.

    “Glad to receive Tajik NSA Mahmudzoda Nasrullo Rahmatjon. Useful exchange of views on the regional situation. Agreed on accelerate our ongoing bilateral cooperation,” Jaishankar tweeted.

  • PM Narendra Modi speaks to US President Joe Biden; leaders look forward to further peace, security in Indo-Pacific region

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to US President Joe Biden on Monday and discussed a host of issues, with the PM asserting that both of them are committed to a rules-based order and look forward to consolidating the bilateral strategic partnership as well as further peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

    This was their first conversation after Biden assumed office last month.

    In a tweet, Modi said that he conveyed his best wishes to the US president, and the two leaders discussed regional issues as well as shared priorities.

    “We also agreed to further our cooperation against climate change,” he said.

    “President Biden & I are committed to a rules-based order.We look forward to consolidating our strategic partnership to further peace & security in Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” Modi said in another tweet.

    Prime Minister Modi had also spoken to Biden after his electoral triumph over Donald Trump in the US polls.

    At that time, the two leaders had discussed the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, while reiterating their firm commitment to the strategic bilateral partnership.

    Last month, Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris took oath as first woman vice president in a historic but scaled down ceremony.

    Tweeting soon after Biden’s inauguration, Modi had extended best wishes for a successful term and said the two countries stand united and resilient in addressing common challenges and advancing global peace and security.

    Noting that the India-US partnership is based on shared values, Modi had said the two countries have a substantial and multi-faceted bilateral agenda, growing economic engagement and vibrant people to people linkages.

    Biden is known to be a strong proponent of closer India-US ties since his days as a senator in the 1970s and played a key role in getting the approval of the Senate for the bilateral civil nuclear deal in 2008.

    The strategic and defence ties between India and the US witnessed major expansion during Barack Obama’s presidency and Biden, as the vice president, had played a key role in it.

  • EAM Jaishankar holds telephonic talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday spoke to newly appointed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during which they expressed commitment to consolidate and expand the India-US strategic partnership and reiterated commitment to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

    The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Jaishankar and Blinken appreciated the robust defence and security ties, growing economic engagement, productive health-care collaboration and strong people-to-people linkages between the two nations.

    ​ALSO READ | Biden admin to remain committed to a strong US-India bilateral relationship: Pentagon

    “Recognising the challenges of a post-Covid world, they agreed to work together to address global issues, including safe and affordable vaccine supply. They also reiterated their commitment to peace and security, especially in the Indo-Pacific region,” the MEA said in a statement. It said Jaishankar and Blinken expressed their commitment to consolidate and expand the “multi-faceted strategic partnership”.

    “The external affairs minister warmly congratulated Secretary Blinken on his appointment and wished him success in his new responsibilities,” it said.

    The Joe Biden administration began formal engagement with top Indian leaders on Wednesday with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan holding telephonic conversation with their Indian counterparts, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and NSA Ajit Doval.

  • Indo-US ties: NSA Ajit Doval talks to US counterpart Jake Sullivan

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: In the first high-level engagements between the Modi government and the Joe Biden administration, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while National Security Adviser Ajit Doval talked to his American counterpart Jake Sullivan on Wednesday, broadly focusing on key regional and global challenges like combating terrorism and ensuring peace in the Indo-Pacific region.

    The defence ministry said Singh received an “introductory telephone call” from the newly-appointed US Secretary of Defence Austin and that the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work together to strengthen the “multifaceted” defence cooperation and the strategic partnership between the two countries.

    Official sources said China figured in the talks in the larger context of geo-political developments, and in relations to the strategic interests of India and the US in the Indo-Pacific region.

    A read-out by the Pentagon said Secretary Austin emphasised the US Defence Department’s commitment to the US-India major defence partnership, observing that it is built upon shared values and a common interest in ensuring the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open.

    “Secretary Austin noted the great strides made in the US-India defence relationship, and he pledged to work collaboratively with the Defence Minister to sustain progress,” it said.

    In his talks with Sullivan, Doval underscored that India and US were uniquely positioned to work closely on regional and international issues including combating the scourge of terrorism.

    “NSA Doval underscored that as leading democracies, with an abiding faith in an open and inclusive world order, India and the US were uniquely positioned to work closely on regional and international issues including combating the scourge of terrorism, maritime security, cyber security and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

    It said Sullivan stated that the US was looking forward to working together on the bilateral agenda and the common global challenges.

    “The two NSAs agreed to work closely to further advance India-US relations, which are built on shared values and common strategic and security interests.

    They highlighted the need to work collectively to address challenges in the post-Covid era and further expand the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” the MEA said.

    On talks between Singh and Austin, the sources said the essence of the conversation was that both sides wanted to maintain the upward trajectory of the strategic and defence ties to advance their common agenda of peace, prosperity and growth.

    In a tweet, Singh said the firm commitment to deepen India-US defence cooperation was reiterated during the talks.

    “Spoke with my US counterpart, Secretary Def Austin and conveyed my warm wishes on his appointment,” Singh tweeted.

    “We reiterated our firm commitment to deepen India-US defence cooperation.

    We exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest to strengthen our strategic partnership,” he said.

    It is not immediately known whether the eastern Ladakh standoff between India and China was discussed in the talks.

    Three days back, Austin spoke to his Japanese counterpart Nobuo Kishi during which China’s growing activities in the East China Sea figured prominently.

    The Indo-US defence ties have been on an upswing in the last few years and in June 2016, the US had designated India a “Major Defence Partner”.

    The two countries have also inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries use each other’s bases for repair and replenishment of supplies as well as provides for deeper cooperation.

    The two sides have also signed COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 that provides for interoperability between the two militaries and provides for sale of high end technology from the US to India.

    In October last year, India and the US sealed the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) to further boost bilateral defence ties.

    The pact provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two countries.