NEW DELHI – India is a key partner in America’s efforts to ensure peace,stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, the Trumpadministration has said.
The remarks by a senior US diplomat came ahead of the announcement by theUS of initiatives for development and economic assistance in the entireregion.
Brian Hook, senior policy Advisor to the US Secretary of State, said the USand India are not only working bilaterally, but also cooperating with otherlike-minded partners, especially Japan, Australia and South Korea toadvance their shared vision of the Indo-Pacific.
“India is a key partner in our efforts to ensure that the entireIndo-Pacific region is a region of peace, stability and growing prosperity.We work very closely with India (in this regard),” Hook told reportersduring a conference call.
“I would say last year and a half of this administration has been a greatdeal of focus on deepening economic, security and diplomatic ties betweenthe United States in India. And there’s so much more good work to come,”Hook said.
Observing that India and the US share enduring interests and values as theoldest and largest democracies, the top American diplomat said thatIndia-US partnership is rooted in shared democratic values.
“When you look at the democracies spanning the Indo-Pacific region, fromthe US, India, Japan, and other very strong democracies that span theIndo-Pacific, we share an interest in advancing security and prosperity inthe region,” Hook said.