US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer on Sunday (local time) highlighted India-US bilateral relations developing into a “global strategic partnership”, based on shared democratic values and increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues.
Speaking at a lunch reception to celebrate the festive season at India House, Washington, he said, “2022 is a highly accomplished year and having an even bigger year to come is really emblematic of how this relationship has proceeded for decades now. We at the White House, the entire administration certainly President Biden see this as among the most consequential relationships with the United States anywhere in the world, but also almost uniquely one of the relationships that still retains some of the greatest potentials to continue to evolve and strengthen and improve. We are deeply committed to doing just that.” Finer further said that 2022 was a huge year in US-India relations and have an even bigger year in 2023.
“We have the Quad Summit, we have India’s G20 presidency that we are looking forward to including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have 2+2 Quad ministerial taking place, we will be relaunching the CEO dialogue, we will be launching a critical and emerging technology dialogue early in 2023,” said Finer.
He said that the India-US is one of the relationships that still retains some of the greatest potentials to continue to evolve, strengthen and improve over time, adding that the US is deeply committed to doing just that.
“Looking around the world, when US and Biden look for partners that can truly help move forward a global agenda, India and PM Modi is very high on that list. We are really excited about what is to come in this relationship, and we are committed to moving it forward,” said the Deputy NSA.
US President Joe Biden and PM Modi have held two in-person bilateral meetings during which they reaffirmed their commitment to a resilient, rules-based international order that safeguards sovereignty and territorial integrity, upholds democratic values, and promotes peace and prosperity for all.
“It (India-US relations) is a two-way street and this is a very symbiotic relationship…” As PM Modi said, “Much of the India that we dream of, lies ahead of us”. It is only a journey we’ve started, we look towards our friends like the US to join us in our journey ahead,” said Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s Ambassador to the US.
Both leaders have also participated in multiple engagements of the Quad Leaders mechanism with Japan and Australia.
The United States supports India’s emergence as a leading global power and a vital partner in efforts to safeguard the Indo-Pacific as a region of peace, stability, and growing prosperity. The strong people-to-people ties between our countries, reflected in the four million-strong Indian American diaspora and vibrant educational exchange between the two countries, are a tremendous source of strength for the strategic partnership.
