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According to US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, the new defense pact – the Agreement on Exchange and Basic Cooperation on Geospatial Cooperation – is an “important milestone” that will promote cooperation between the two countries’ militaries.
“The United States plans to sell more warplanes and drones to India,” Esper added.
The pact will give India access to a wide range of topographic, marine and aeronautical data deemed essential for targeting missiles and armed drones.
“The pact will also allow the US to provide advanced navigation and avionics assistance on aircraft it supplies to India,” said an Indian defense source.
Meanwhile, after holding his Indian counterparts’ talks, Pompeo said the two countries must work together to confront the threat China poses to security and freedom.
The annual US-India strategic dialogue comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with Indian troops facing Chinese troops on the disputed Himalayan border.
“Great things happen when our democracies align to better protect the citizens of our two countries and of course, the free world,” Pompeo told reporters after talks with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
“Our leaders, and our citizens, are seeing more and more clearly that the Chinese Communist Party is not a friend of democracy, rule of law, transparency, or freedom of navigation, the foundation of a free and open and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Pompeo said.
Jaishankar did not refer directly to China in his comments at the press conference, but praised the convergence of national security with the United States and their determination to address security and counter-terrorism issues and ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
China itself rejects Pompeo’s allegations.
“We urge Pompeo to leave his Cold War mentality, zero-sum mindset, and stop talking about the ‘Chinese threat’,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news conference in Beijing.
US President Donald Trump has made a tough stance on China a key part of his campaign to secure a second term in next week’s presidential election and Pompeo has sought to support allies to counter China’s growing influence in the region.(Also read: Trump Security Adviser: China Threats of the Century)
India itself has a problem with China.
In June, 20 Indian soldiers were killed in clashes with Chinese troops on their highland borders, bolstering the atmosphere in India against China and prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to seek closer military ties with the United States.(Also read: Clashes with China in the Himalayas, 20 Indian Soldiers Killed)
This month, India invited Australia to join naval exercises it holds annually with the United States and Japan, dismissing Chinese concerns that the drills are destabilizing the region.(Also read: Increasing Tensions with China, US Cs Holds Exercises in the Indian Ocean)
Pompeo and Esper previously met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for talks that included regional stability, a US government spokesman said.
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