Washington:
U.S. President Donald Trump has enhanced America’s ties with India and solidified the growing partnership between the two countries in a way not seen in any previous administration, the White House said.
The US president will continue to build this essential partnership in the years to come, he said.
“President Trump has made U.S.-Indian relations a priority and has worked to expand all facets of the partnership over the past three and a half years,” a senior official in the National Security Council administration told PTI on Monday. of the White House.
“Given the democratic foundations of both countries and their mutual interests in rebuilding the global economy after COVID-19, diversifying global supply chains and ensuring that the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open, President Trump will continue to build this essential partnership in the years to come, ”the official said.
“The Trump administration has enhanced US relations with India and solidified our growing partnership in a way that has not been seen in any other US administration,” the official said, noting that the president allowed India to become the first unconventional ally to be offered an armed MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial System.
“During President Trump’s historic visit to India from February 24-26, he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi elevated the relationship to a comprehensive global strategic partnership. Prime Minister Modi was also one of the first foreign leaders to go to the White House after President Trump took office on June 26, 2017, ”the official said.
The senior official noted that the two leaders also spoke side-by-side at two major events – “Howdy, Modi” in September 2019 in Houston, Texas, in front of a crowd of over 55,000 and again at ” Namaste, Trump “in February 2020 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to address a crowd of 110,000.
“These gatherings have strengthened our interpersonal bonds and highlighted the warm personal relationship between the two leaders,” said the official.
Trump’s Indo-Pacific strategy prioritizes closer cooperation between the United States and India to ensure a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, the official said.
“We have strengthened the quadrilateral consultations between the United States, India, Australia and Japan, with the four foreign ministers meeting for the first time in September 2019,” the official said.
“President Trump has strengthened all aspects of US-Indian security and defense cooperation to build a comprehensive, lasting and mutually beneficial defense partnership,” the official said.
Under the Trump administration, the United States has become India’s second-largest arms supplier, going from virtually no arms sales ten years ago to over $ 20 billion today, a the official said, adding that earlier this year the United States and India closed $ 3 billion in defense sales, including additional MH-60R naval helicopters and Apache AH-64 attack helicopters.
“To strengthen India’s role as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific, the Trump administration has lifted restrictions on the supply of sensitive defense technologies, allowing India to become the first ally unconventional to offer an armed MQ-9. Unmanned aerial system, ”the official said.
“As global leaders with vibrant democracies, the United States and India have cooperated in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. US and Indian pharmaceutical companies have collaborated to expand the global supply of essential medicines and are cooperating in vaccine development, ”the official added.
In a separate statement, Al Mason, co-chair of the US-India Trump Victory Finance Committee, said Trump had elevated India’s stature on the world stage and claimed credit also went to Prime Minister Modi .
“Of course, credit also goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his skillful policy towards the United States. The Indo-American relationship has been rock solid. Kudos to the brilliance of Trump and Modi for cementing the bond. between India and the United States, ”Mason told PTI.
