New Delhi: When it comes to Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India and the US cannot afford to “take their eyes off the ball”, a senior US defense official posted here said on Wednesday as he made it clear that Washington remains. Watching Beijing’s antics
US Defense Attaché to India Rear Admiral Michael L Baker also said Washington wants to be New Delhi’s “partner of choice” in the production and sale of defense equipment.
Speaking to a select group of journalists here, he expressed satisfaction over the growing Indo-US defense ties and said the US military conducts maximum exercises with India.
Asked specifically about the ongoing LAC tensions and how the US views them, Baker said, “This is definitely an important area for us. We remain vigilant, we exchange our views on this area.” Let’s work closely with India to make sure we have a clear understanding of what’s going on, and I think this is a place for both India and the US. Attentive we don’t look with the ball can remove.”
He further said that the Chinese had a very aggressive stance when it comes to the South China Sea, another area where Americans need to be vigilant.
He said the US and India are working to ensure that – either individually or together – they become security partners for other countries in the region, as an open and free Indo-Pacific is their shared goal.
Referring to India’s strong military ties with Russia and its dependence on Russia, the US official said his country wants to be New Delhi’s partner of choice.
“India has the ability to choose its partner. And it has taken a conscious decision to diversify more over the past decade. It has made a conscious decision to continue to diversify going forward, and I think it has made a conscious decision to partner with the US in many areas. I am happy with those developments,” he said.
Baker said both India and the US were working on “very difficult challenges” when it came to greater collaboration, including data sharing and high-end technology.
He said the two countries are working on a number of projects under the foreign military sales route and are also looking at how they can collaborate further.
Speaking about the Ukraine conflict, he called it an unwanted war waged by Moscow.
Baker also mentioned the close ties between China and Russia. In its national defense strategy released last week, Washington identified the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as “the most consequential strategic competitor for decades to come”, whose “coercive strategy” is the most widespread and serious challenge to US national security. Is.
India and its tensions with China along the LAC are mentioned three times in the 80-page document, which states that the US will “advance our key defense partnership with India to deter aggression from the PRC and the Indian Ocean region”. capacity to ensure free and open access.
(Edited by VS Chandrasekhar)