AGARTALA: Reiterating the push to further elevate Indo-US relations, US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, on Thursday said that ties between India and the US are deep and broad, and the enthusiasm of Americans for India has not diminished. He delivered this keynote speech at the US-India Defense News Conclave: Stories of U.S-India Defense and Security Partnership in Delhi.
In a release on Friday, the organizer of the event, CUTS International, stated that Garcetti highlighted that commerce, technology, people, and security are central to this vital partnership. “We know heads think the same and hearts feel the same but need to know if our feet are aligned too.”
“Our relationship is not a bet; it is a commitment and friendship that is true, tried, and tested. It is not a win or lose or a zero-sum game; it’s all about trusting each other without the hope for return. When we stand together with our friends, we can ensure that right can make might. When the two largest democracies come together, it reflects how much we value principles as the guiding light for peace in the world,” Garcetti underscored.
He maintained that the United States is with India for the long haul, and the leaders have pledged to go further in terms of technology, defense, startups, tech, and space. He said, “We want India to be a place we come to, to fix our ships, to find great jobs, and to know each other’s systems and training. Don’t take this relationship for granted; take it as a marriage that requires effort.”
This event was the culmination of a series of sessions designed to foster meaningful discussions on the US-India defense partnership. It aimed to bring industry experts from both countries together and generate awareness about the growing partnership in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, among traditional and online media professionals across India, the release stated.
The experts suggested focusing on maritime security, space cooperation, ocean diplomacy, and “CEOs of Bilateral Partnership: Co-design, Co-develop & Co-produce,” which addressed building a modern defense industrial ecosystem and enhancing joint R&D and manufacturing capabilities.
However, Joint Secretary of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Defense, Vishesh Negi, said, “India and the U.S. are natural partners in the 21st century and beyond. This partnership has a robust defense and security focus along with promoting regional stability and ensuring common prosperity for India and the United States. What we have now is very robust military-to-military cooperation, exercising together, and the major reasons are the use of similar technology and the interest in the Indo-Pacific region.”