New Delhi: Despite differences between both countries over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Joe Biden administration believes that “times have changed” for India-US ties, with the two countries now being seen as close strategic partners. Bilateral relations between India and the US, the Washington believes, is following in the footsteps of what India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had envisioned.
US and India held their 4th round of 2+2 ministerial dialogue in Washington Monday, which was attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin
Prior to the 2+2 dialogue, US President Joe Biden also held a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which they discussed both the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as the coming together of Moscow and Beijing.
“Very soon after our countries established diplomatic relations some 75 years ago, Prime Minister Nehru came to visit the United States. President Truman met him on the tarmac of the airport. And Prime Minister Nehru noted the importance of the moment, saying, and I quote: ‘I trust that these two republics of the Western World and the Eastern World will find many ways of working together in friendly and fruitful cooperation to our mutual advantage, and for the good of humanity’ … So for nearly 75 years, we’ve done just that. And I’m grateful to our partners for making it possible for that ‘friendly and fruitful cooperation’ to continue and to deepen,” said Blinken during a joint press conference, after the meeting.
The US Secretary of State also raised the issue of human rights abuse in India.
“We also share a commitment to our democratic values, such as protecting human rights. We regularly engage with our Indian partners on these shared values, and to that end we’re monitoring some recent concerning developments in India, including a rise in human rights abuses by some government, police, and prison officials,” said Blinken.
According to Blinken, the reason why India’s relationship with Russia continued to deepen over the past decades, and not so much with the US, is because Washington was “not able to be a partner” of New Delhi.
However, he said, “Times have changed”.
“Today we are able and willing to be a partner of choice with India across virtually every realm — commerce, technology, education, and security. And that was very much the nature of the conversation that we had today,” Blinken said at the press conference, which was also attended by Jaishankar, Singh and Austin.
The US Secretary of State also noted the fact that India has “made very strong statements in New York at the UN, before the Indian parliament, condemning the killing of civilians in Ukraine, calling for an independent investigation of these atrocities.”
“And I would also note that India is providing significant humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine, notably medicines, which are very necessary and in real demand,” he said.
Blinken added, “India has to make its own decisions about how it approaches this challenge. We as a general proposition are consulting with all of our allies and partners on the consequences of Putin’s war, the atrocities being committed against the people of Ukraine.”
“In our judgment, it is important that all countries, especially those with leverage, press Putin to end the war. And it’s also important that democracies stand together and speak with one voice to defend the values that we share,” he stressed.
Also read: Colombo to Male to Islamabad, India has new headaches as neighbourhood erupts in trouble
Oil purchases from Russia
According to Blinken, while the US understands that each country has its own energy needs and requirements, it expects US’ “allies and partners” to “not to increase” Russian energy purchases.
“What we’re seeing across the board is that the Russian aggression against Ukraine is having profound impacts not only on the people of Ukraine, the brutalisation of the country, but it is having global impacts, including, as we were talking about, on food availability and prices and also on energy. And we’ve seen significant increases in price there as well,” he said.
Alluding to the fact that India is buying a miniscule amount of oil from Russia, compared to some European countries, Jaishankar said this is needed for energy security purposes.
However, he highlighted the fact that despite sanctions on Russia, Europe itself is buying oil and gas from Russia. “Probably our total purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon,” said Jaishankar.
According to him, some of the biggest concerns that countries around the world are facing due to the Russia-Ukraine war are that of energy security, rising prices, increasing premiums, and limited supplies.
“So today, you have to understand it is a legitimate concern of countries to ensure their energy security,” he said, adding that soon there will be issues of food security also.
CAATSA waiver still undecided
On India buying S-400 missiles from Russia, Blinken said the US has not yet decided on whether or not to give a waiver to New Delhi under Washington’s CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act).
“We have not yet made a determination regarding potential sanctions or potential waivers under the CAATSA law,” he said.
However, he added the US is now actively working towards becoming a “security partner of choice” of India, so that it can effectively replace Russia.
“There is, of course, a long history and a long relationship between India and Russia, including when it comes to military equipment. That relationship took hold many years ago at a time when, as I said, we were not able to be a partner to India. And again, as I said, we are now both able and willing to be such a partner, to be a security partner of choice for India. That’s one of the areas that we discussed in some detail today.”
According to Austin, US and India are rapidly becoming each other’s “strong and reliable partner” including making sure that systems are made affordable and can operate together.
Jaishankar said he believes India today has “more options” when it comes to buying arms and equipment from multiple suppliers than it had earlier.
“We watch what’s happening in the world, like any country does, and we draw our conclusions and make our assessments. And believe me, we have a decent sense of what is in our interest and know how to protect it and advance it. So I think part of what has changed is we have more options than we did before,” he said.
According to Singh, India is now pushing for co-production of arms under the ‘Make in India’ programme.
Concerns over Russia-China coming together
Prior to the US-India 2+2 dialogue, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the Russia-Ukraine war as well, as well as the growing closeness between Moscow and Beijing.
“Prime Minister Modi took the opportunity to share his views in a pretty candid way about what’s going on … We know that Russia has concerns — we know that India has concerns about the links between Russia and China. India, of course, is facing a very tense situation along the Line of Actual Control. And when India sees the tight links between China and Russia, that’s obviously going to impact their thinking,” said a senior White House official.
According to Austin, “China is seeking to refashion the region and the international system more broadly in ways that serve its interests.”
He added: “And so I’m pleased that we’ve (India and US) identified new opportunities to extend the operational reach of our militaries and to coordinate more closely together across the expanse of the Indo-Pacific.”
Both sides reiterated the importance of adherence to international law to meet challenges to the rules-based order, including in the South China Sea, said a joint statement issued after the meeting.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
Also read: ‘Worrying’ Ukraine situation is focus of Biden-Modi virtual summit, US hails India’s aid to Kyiv