Underlining the robust ties between the countries, US Congressman Ro Khanna said on Monday his country is going to continue to expand its engagement with India to make it one of the most important relationships of the 21st century. Currently on a visit to India, the Indian-American lawmaker said deeper cooperation between India and the US in areas of critical technologies and Defence would be beneficial not only for the two countries but for the globe.
Khanna and Congressman Michael Waltz, the two co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, are leading a Congressional delegation to India. They will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation on Independence Day from the ramparts of Red Fort.
“The India-US relationship has never been so stronger. It is building on Defence cooperation, economic cooperation, technology cooperation, cooperation on climate,” Khanna said. The Congressman also described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the US as very successful. “The Prime Minister’s visit to the United States was a success. President (Joe) Biden comes here (India) in September. We are going to continue to make this one of the most important relationships of the 21st century,” he said.
The lawmaker also hailed growing India-US cooperation in the maritime security domain. “I am very pleased to see that the Indian Navy is doing exercises with the American Navy to make sure that the Arabian Sea is safe for free shipping lines,” he added. In an interview to PTI, he said India can play a “helpful role” in bringing “just peace” to Ukraine considering its “historical relationship” with Russia.
Khanna also asserted that China must respect its borders with India and that Washington would strongly support New Delhi if it faces any security challenge.