Washington: The US sees India as a pivotal nation for its security in the Asia Pacific region, the Pentagon has said as the Trump administration quietly started the process of implementing the recent designation of India as a “major defence partner”.
Pentagon Spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told media persons, “The relationship between India and the United States is on track. Secretary (James) Mattis has made the defence relationship with India a top priority.”
“He sees India as a pivotal nation in the region going forward for our security,” Davis said, weeks after Mattis had a successful meeting with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit K Doval at the Pentagon.
According to media reports, Doval’s American counterpart Lt Gen H R McMaster is slated to visit India soon. The White House refrained from making any comment on the visit.
Keeping defence ties on the forefront of the India-US relationship, the Trump administration is believed to have started the process of implementing in letter and spirit the recent US designation of India as a “major defence partner” .
Mattis in his first phone conversation with the then Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is believed to have said that he is ready to take off the India-US defence relationship from where it was left by his predecessor Ashton Carter.
The assurance is being fast implemented by the Pentagon, sources said.
A day before Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the US, the Department of Commerce federal notification that relaxed India-specific defence export control norms.
