NEW DELHI: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in India on Tuesday to discuss the strengthening of Indo-Pacific involvement, seen as a counter to China, as well as a record for Delhi’s new human rights and other problems.
Blinken’s visit included a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior official on Wednesday, and came only a few days after the number 2 diplomat, Wendy Sherman, was in China for face-to-face talks.
Washington has long viewed India as a key partner in an effort to hunt for increasing Chinese firmness in the region.
The US and India are part of the quad _ group which also includes Japanese and Australian allies _ in this region helping to deal with the economic power and the Chinese military.
While Biden’s administration has indicated that he wants larger civil relations with Beijing, it shows signs of softening the steps of Trump’s administrative confrontation in trade, technology and human rights.
Note Rights of India, the world’s largest democracy, will also be on the agenda, according to comments last week from Dean Thompson, acting assistant secretary for South and Central Asia.
The opposite of the Hindu Nationalist Party in power mode accused him of distinguishing and introducing a policy aimed at reshaping Multifaith democracy into a Hindu country that discriminates to Muslims and other minorities.
Modi was also accused of trying to silence the sounds that were critical of the handling of his government to a large wave of pandemic which ripped the country in April and May.
India routinely denies criticism of the notes of human rights and has rejected criticism by foreign governments and groups of rights that say civil liberties have shrunk in the country.
Thompson said Blinken will also seek Indian support in stabilizing Afghanistan after US military withdrawals completed at the end of August.
Blinken will travel to Kuwait on Thursday.
The Indian external ministry last week said Blinken ‘visit was the opportunity to continue high-level bilateral dialogue and improve the US-US global strategic partnerships.
“Over the past few years, the relationship between the two countries has increased, especially in terms of their mutual interest in China that rises.
They continued to improve their military relations and signed a series of inner military and military cooperation offers.
In March, US defense secretary Lloyd Austin met with Indian officials and modi.
Both parties agreed to deepen defense cooperation, sharing intelligence and logistics.
His visit was attended by John Kerry’s climate messenger.