⁍ The United States and India must work together to confront the threat posed by China to security and freedom, U.S. Secretary Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday.
⁍ Pompeo arrived in New Delhi on Monday for an annual strategic dialogue at a time of heightened tension in the region.
⁍ In June, 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese troops on their high-altitude border.
– Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in New Delhi on Monday for an annual strategic dialogue with Indian leaders, Reuters reports. “Today is a new opportunity for two great democracies like ours to grow closer,” Pompeo said before talks with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. “There is much more work to do for sure. We have a lot to discuss today: Our cooperation on the pandemic that originated in Wuhan, to confronting the Chinese Communist Party’s threats to security and freedom to promoting peace and stability throughout the region.” The Wall Street Journal reports that Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper will sign an agreement Tuesday that will give India access to advanced US satellite and map data for better accuracy of its missiles and drones. India has its own problems with a more assertive China. In June, 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese troops on their high-altitude border, hardening the mood in India against China and driving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to seek closer military ties with the United States. This month, India invited Australia to join naval drills it holds each year with the United States and Japan, brushing off Chinese concerns that the exercises destabilise the region.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-asia-india/pompeo-says-us-india-must-focus-on-threat-posed-by-china-idUSKBN27C0OA