Washington: India is an important partner for the United States, the Biden administration has said ahead of a crucial visit by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for talks with top American leadership, including his counterpart Jake Sullivan. Responding to a question about Doval’s planned visit to Washington next week, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters here on Thursday that expanding security cooperation with India is also part of the US-India relationship.
“India is an important partner of choice for the United States in many places, and that includes trade cooperation,” Patel said.
“Of course, it includes security cooperation. It also includes technical cooperation. I don’t want to get too carried away with the process or get too carried away with a specific meeting, which could be short,” he said.
Both the sides are yet to announce Doval’s visit to Washington. “It (India-US relations) is certainly very important to us,” Patel said.
Earlier this week, India’s Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri was in Washington and met top officials of the Biden administration.
“Delighted to host India’s Deputy NSA, dear colleague and friend @VikramMisri, at India House. Thanking @WhiteHouse NSC PDNSA John Finer, Indo-Pacific Coordinator Dr Kurt Campbell and the US Administration, think-tanks, strategic community and industry Joining friends of the US,” India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu tweeted on Wednesday.
Addressing a Republic Day event here on Thursday, Sandhu said the Global Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the US has been steadily gaining momentum, covering almost all areas of human endeavour, based on shared democratic values, interests and common interests. The convergence is driven by a number of issues. and lively, contact between people.
“Our two countries are benefiting from mutual exchanges in all areas, including healthcare, clean energy, security, education, technology, implementing the vision of PM Modi and President Biden. With partners in the Quad, our Connectivity has expanded into infrastructure, supply chains, climate action and space cooperation to become a force for global good, Sandhu said.