Not about restoring, but building on already strong partnership: Rubio during talks with EAM Jaishankar
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that India and the United States, as the world’s two largest democracies, provide the foundation for “incredible cooperation”, while emphasising that his visit is not focused on “restoring” ties, but on strengthening what he described as a “very solid and strong strategic partnership.”
He described the US partnership with India as “one of the most important in the world”.
Rubio made these remarks during his meeting with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
“It has already been a fantastic first day. We are looking forward to our visits and our talks today, and to learning more about the country,” Rubio said.
Echoing EAM Jaishankar’s remarks that the United States and India are “strategic allies of critical importance”, the US Secretary of State said, “We obviously work with countries all over the world and across the region on a variety of issues as they emerge, but our strategic partnership is what sets this relationship apart, because it is not simply limited to a region. It extends to opportunities to cooperate globally in different parts of the world, including potentially in the Western Hemisphere and other places.”
Rubio said India and the US share several common interests and will continue to build upon their “solid and strong” ties.
“We are the two largest democracies in the world, and that alone is the basis for incredible cooperation. But we have so many common interests that it makes perfect sense for us to continue building on them,” he said.
“This is not about restoring or reinvigorating ties. I have seen people use that terminology. This is about continuing to build on what is already a very solid and strong strategic partnership — one of the most important partnerships we have, and one of the most important in the world,” he added.
In his opening remarks, EAM Jaishankar said he was looking forward to “open and productive discussions”.
“We have a comprehensive global strategic partnership, which in simple terms means we have deep and broad-based cooperation, and a relationship that impacts and influences other regions and the world,” the EAM said.
“That is because we have converging interests on many issues and in many parts of the world. So I look forward to our conversation today. These are complicated times, but as strong partners, I am very confident that we will have very open and productive discussions. Once again, a very warm welcome,” he added.
Both leaders later held delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House, with discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, and technology.
–IANS
