Austin meets Modi from India as the US-China summit begins with difficulty

A senior defense official spoke in the background that the United States and India share a common interest in supporting freedom of navigation and free, fair and mutual trade, as well as resolving the Indo-Pacific conflict peacefully. . . To discuss important bilateral talks.

The person said, “Whether China or someone else wants to undermine or challenge those policies is part of how to build these relationships and how to build these networks to balance or oppose them.”

Austin’s visit to New Delhi marks the third leg of his first foreign trip as President of the Pentagon, and after his visit to Japan and South Korea he met with Secretary of State Anthony Blingen and their Japanese and Korean counterparts. A senior security official said Austin would meet India’s national security adviser after talks with Modi. On Saturday, Austin will meet with the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State.

Over the years, the United States has sought to strengthen its alliance with India through increased military cooperation, especially through the Indian Navy and arms sales. However, India’s purchase of an advanced Russian S-400 missile system may be a barrier. The United States has imposed sanctions on NATO ally Turkey for purchasing the S-400 system, which faces US sanctions through sanctions, but has not yet fined India for the same acquisition.

The potential operation of the S-400 system in India would pose a problem for the United States; The system is designed to detect and attack advanced U.S. fighters such as the F-35.

The senior defense official declined to say whether the US was considering sanctions against the S-400, but indicated that the system had not yet been delivered to India, which could lead to sanctions.

“The purchase of U.S. equipment is not a prerequisite for strengthening cooperation,” the senior security official said. “Our enhanced cooperation depends on the integration of strategic interests,” purchasing equipment that can work together “is definitely a way to work together to implement that partnership.”

Another senior security official declined to comment on whether Austin would talk to Indian officials about Modi’s harsh treatment of Indian Muslims, but said “we continue to raise human rights issues.”

In the Indo-Pacific region, the goal is to build existing bilateral relations between different countries through “interconnected networks” that can share information and better cooperate in military operations, a senior security official said.

“It will be very different,” the person said from NATO. “It’s very unique; it’s very relevant to how the Indo – Pacific evolved.”