The Trump Administration views India as “a leading power and a true friend whose influence internationally is important and growing”, Kenneth Juster, nominee of President Donald Trump to be the next US Ambassador to India, said at a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
“A strong India and a strong US-India relationship are in America’s interest,” Juster said at the hearing for confirmation of his nomination, noting that the two nations “share common values and a commitment to democracy, pluralism and the rule of law”. Juster referred to the “excellent meeting” that President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last June, adding the Trump Administration will seek to deepen the US-India partnership for the benefit of the people of both countries.
“If confirmed, I look forward to working with each of you to advance our strategic partnership with India — a relationship that is critical to promoting US national security and economic interests,” he said.
A former Under Secretary of Commerce in the George W. Bush Administration and someone who has played a key role in developing the Next Strategies in Strategic Partnership between the two countries, Juster said the “remarkable evolution of US-India relations has truly been a bipartisan undertaking and has benefited from strong leadership and support in the Congress”.
As part of the efforts to expand and enhance the strategic partnership, Juster highlighted deepening the bilateral defence and security cooperation, building on the US recognition of India as a Major Defense Partner.
“Together, our countries seek to ensure freedom of navigation, overflight, and commerce, and advance a rules-based, democratic order throughout the Indo-Pacific Region,” he said
lauding the Modi Government for India’s recent push on economic reforms, he highlighted the “landmark Goods and Services Tax”, liberalization of foreign direct investment in several sectors and the ongoing work to improve the ease of doing business.