US, India seek to bolster bilateral ties

The United States and India opened talks yesterday in their latest bid to ramp up defence and political ties. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark Esper began a day of talks in Washington with their counterparts from India, one of only three countries to enjoy annual so-called “2+2” talks with the United States -- a format meant to encourage deep, strategic relations.

The talks came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bolstered by a convincing election win earlier this year, increasingly looks to solidify ties between the world’s two largest democracies. “We are working together more closely than many thought possible only a few years ago,” said Alice Wells, the top US diplomat for South Asia.

The United States will seek ways with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to boost cooperation on peacekeeping, judicial training, space and science, Wells said. The 2+2 talks -- the second such meeting after last year’s inaugural edition in New Delhi -- is also expected to showcase India’s growing defence purchases from the United States.

The two sides could formally sign a deal for India to spend more than $2 billion for 24 Romeo helicopters, which are designed to knock out submarines and ships. The talks reflect “what has been a very strong bipartisan consensus of successive administrations on the importance of this strategic partnership,” Wells said.

The nationalist-minded Trump earlier this year removed India from a trade preference pact under which it exported $5.6 billion in goods in 2017 -- unwelcome news for Delhi as economic growth slows down. The United States and India could also see frank exchanges on Afghanistan, from which Trump is hoping to pull out thousands of troops and end America’s longest war through negotiations with the Taliban.

India is one of the most enthusiastic backers of Afghanistan’s internationally recognised government and has contributed $3 billion since 2001, mindful that the former Taliban regime was allied with rival Pakistan and welcomed virulently anti-Indian militants. But the talks on the whole may also be overshadowed. As the four ministers meet, the House of Representatives is expected to vote to impeach Trump.