Stability of Indo-Pacific should be secured: Jaishankar

During his bilateral talks with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in the Pentagon on Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the stability, security, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific should be secured as the global situation has become very challenging.
“So for me, our meeting today, and my presence here today, I do share with you that the global situation has become a far more challenging for a variety of reasons. Indo-Pacific in particular, it’s important that the stability, security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific should be secured which is best done amongst others,” Jaishankar said during the opening remarks at Pentagon.
He also emphasised creating stronger defence industrial collaboration and military exercises between India and the US during the talks.
Both the leaders expressed their commitment to deepening bilateral defence cooperation and expanding information-sharing and logistics cooperation to drive deeper operational coordination between the US and Indian militaries, said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder in a readout.
Austin and Jaishankar also discussed new opportunities for bilateral defence industrial cooperation in support of India’s contributions as a regional security provider.
The two sides are also looking forward to the launch of a new defence dialogue later this year as the United States and India work more closely across space, cyber, artificial intelligence, and other domains, the statement read.
Furthermore, Lloyd Austin and S Jaishankar underscored the value of the deepening collaboration between the United States, India, Australia, Japan, and European partners, and both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working together as steadfast partners to advance the United States and India’s shared vision for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
During his opening remarks in Washington, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin sharply criticised China for “unprecedented provocations in the Taiwan Strait” during bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar at the Pentagon and said that India and the US, the two great democracies, are working together toward a brighter future for the Indo-Pacific as the world faces sustained challenges to peace, security, and prosperity in the region and beyond.