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India 'a very strategic ally': US on how Trump sees China's influence in Indo-Pacific
The White House has praised India's role in the Indo-Pacific as 'a very strategic ally', highlighting the close ties between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi. read more
President Donald Trump shakes hands with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office of the White House. File image/AP
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday praised India as an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region and spoke about the strong relationship between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Answering a question about China's influence in the region, Leavitt said, 'India remains a very strategic ally in the Asia Pacific, and the President has a very good relationship with Prime Minister Modi, and he will continue to have that.'
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Her remarks came as India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is visiting the US to attend the QUAD Foreign Ministers' Meeting. On Monday, Jaishankar also opened an exhibition at the United Nations titled The Human Cost of Terrorism, aimed at raising global awareness about state-sponsored terrorism.
The QUAD is a partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the US, focused on promoting an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. It began as a joint humanitarian effort after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Earlier, on June 18, it was announced that President Trump has accepted Prime Minister Modi's invitation to attend the upcoming QUAD Summit in New Delhi later this year. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri shared details of their phone call, which took place on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada.
'For the next meeting of QUAD, PM Modi invited President Trump to India. While accepting the invitation, President Trump said that he is excited to come to India,' Mr Misri said in a video message.
The White House spokesperson's remarks on India's importance in the Indo-Pacific came shortly after she addressed another ANI question about a possible trade deal between India and the US.
Addressing the media, Leavitt said, 'Yes, the President said that last week (that the US and India are very close to a trade deal), and it remains true. I just spoke to our Secretary of Commerce about it. He was in the Oval Office with the President. They are finalising these agreements, and you'll hear from the President and his trade team very soon when it comes to India.'
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