World News | Austin Terms India-US Ties Cornerstone of Indo-Pacific Security as China Seeks to 'refashion' Region

Washington [US], April 12 (ANI): Terming the India-US defence partnership the cornerstone of security in the Indo-Pacific, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday underlined the challenges that lay in the region saying that China is seeking to "refashion" international system in ways that serve its authoritarian interest.

Developing his opening remarks at the fourth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, he said, "It has been nearly two decades since we signed our first defence framework and we built a partnership that is now a cornerstone of security in Indo-Pacific. Today we are positioning US and Indian militaries to operate and coordinate closely together."

Also Read | India-US 2+2 Dialogue: EAM S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Hold Separate Bilateral Talks with US Counterparts.

Underscoring the importance of rule of law, freedom of the seas and regional peace and security Austin said now more than ever democracies must stand together to protect the values that they share. "We all understand the challenges that we face in Indo-Pacific. China is seeking to refashion the region and international system more broadly in ways that serve its authoritarian interest," he said.

"But as we operationalise our defence agreements and take our cooperation to the next level, I believe that we can sustain and strengthen a favourable balance of power in the region," he added.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Eight South Korean Drug Firms To Donate $2.43 Million Worth of Medicine to Ukraine.

Against this backdrop, Austin said, in today's meeting he will be looking forward to discussing a range of bilateral defence priorities, including deeper info sharing and industrial cooperation. "This will help to ensure that our militaries are ready to meet any challenge," he said.

Furthermore, the US Defence Secretary said a strong US-Indian partnership is a critical building block in a more resilient regional security architecture. "So, today's 2+2 is an opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen our cooperation with like-minded partners."

This India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue was preceded by a virtual meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Joe Biden wherein both the leaders had an extensive exchange of views on several regional and global issues, such as the Ukraine situation, and the Indo-Pacific region.

The meeting was held before the 2+2 dialogue between the two countries. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)