With ongoing tensions between China and India at the border in Ladakh, as well as China’s aggressive posturing in the Indo-Pacific and South China Sea, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, during his visit to India, did not hesitate to describe such behaviour as a form of “bullying and coercion”. He further emphasised that the India-US relationship serves as a “cornerstone” for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Austin made these remarks at a press conference held in New Delhi following detailed discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The two leaders thoroughly reviewed the situation in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region, including the ongoing situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) facing China.
Austin pointed out that China’s actions include attempts to forcefully redraw borders, which poses a direct threat to the sovereignty of nations. He also highlighted the Russian aggression against Ukraine, which shares similar aims of changing borders through force and undermining national sovereignty.
Additionally, Austin emphasised the significance of collaborative military exercises between India and the United States. He acknowledged the existence of transnational issues such as terrorism and climate change in our rapidly changing world.
He stated, “So, democracies must now rally together around not only our common interests but also our shared values. Preserving and protecting the freedoms that are essential to peace and prosperity will require vigorous leadership from the United States and India. We still have a lot of work to do, but I am confident that the US-India partnership will help secure an open and prosperous future for the Indo-Pacific and the wider world.”
Regarding the ties between India and the US, Austin reiterated that the partnership is a “cornerstone” for a free and open Indo-Pacific. He highlighted how the deepening ties demonstrate how technological innovation and growing military cooperation between the two “great powers” can contribute to global good.
Emphasising the importance of US-India cooperation, Austin expressed, “We all face a rapidly changing world. We witness bullying and coercion from the People’s Republic of China and Russian aggression against Ukraine, which seek to redraw borders and threaten national sovereignty.”
Austin also mentioned, “We have established an ambitious new roadmap for defense industrial cooperation with a fast-track, high-priority focus on co-development and co-production projects, as well as building closer ties between our defense industries.”
Looking forward, he expressed eagerness to advance some of these projects during the upcoming visits, indirectly referring to the forthcoming tour of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States.
During the discussions, both sides explored ways to enhance information sharing and discussed new initiatives to improve maritime cooperation, particularly in the undersea domain.
Concluding his remarks at the media briefing, Austin emphasised the unique role of India and the United States as the world’s two largest democracies in preserving the rules-based international order that ensures the security of all nations. He described his talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval as “productive”.