Washington Is Committed to a Neutral Policy in the Region
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed on Wednesday that strengthening U.S.-India relations is one of the top US priorities. He emphasized that building US relations with Pakistan will not diminish Washington’s traditional friendship with India. Rubio made these comments before he met with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit. https://www.state.gov
Rubio remarked that the US has a “deep, historic, and important friendship” with India. He made these comments amid growing speculation that the US is reshuffling its South Asia policy and re-engaging Pakistan.
US-India Relations Remain a Priority Despite Pakistan Outreach
In regard to India’s fears about any shift in regional priorities, Rubio stated, “New Delhi is concerned for obvious reasons, but I don’t think anything we are doing with Pakistan is at the expense of our relationship with India.” Rubio also asserted India is “very mature when it comes to diplomacy,” and stressed the US needs mutual relations with more than one country. “I don’t think [the US can BS by saying we are no longer friends with one, but we are friends with the other, and then work with both
Strengthening US-Pakistan Relations
Following several months of heightened US-Pakistan activity in Washington, Rubio’s remarks followed the growth of US-Pakistan relations that first surfaced when US President Donald Trump met with General Munir, the Chief of the Pakistani Army, following a very limited border clash between India and Pakistan earlier this month. Though India resisted Trump’s assertion that he was pursuing a deal, Pakistan made it clear to the President that its mid-month cessation of hostilities resulted from US involvement.
Promising US-India Energy and Trade Cooperation
In reference to India’s energy imports from Russia, Rubio noted that diversification of supply is in the mutual national interest of both the US and India’s strategic objectives. “The more they buy from us, the less they buy from somebody else,” he said. He did say he was not pursuing any trade talks right now.
Overall, the reaffirmed balance of US-Pakistan diplomacy illustrated the effectiveness of the US approach to achieve regional stability in South Asia with an eye toward protecting bilateral US-India relations as a regional influence or strategic partner.
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