Washington: The U.S. Department of Defense agency, the Pentagon, stated on Friday that the defense relationship between the United States and India remains strong. Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder addressed this relationship during a press conference in Washington.
‘We greatly value our defense partnership with India. We are committed to further strengthening this partnership, and you can expect to see continued progress in the future,’ Pat Ryder told reporters.
In 1997, defense trade between India and the U.S. was minimal, but today it exceeds $20 billion. In response to a question, Ryder emphasized that China remains the pacing challenge for the Department of Defense.
‘We appreciate the partnerships we have with India and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region. These partnerships are essential for upholding individual nations’ sovereignty and adhering to the international rules-based order that has maintained peace and stability for many years,’ he said.
Furthermore, the U.S. rejected allegations that the issues between Canada and India are affecting the relationship between India and the U.S. Diplomatic relations between the two countries soured after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made remarks against India. A Washington-based magazine reported on the India-Canada conflict and the strained relations between India and the U.S.
The U.S. Embassy in India issued a statement refuting the report. The US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti is actively working to strengthen the relationship between India and the U.S. The statement also noted that Garcetti and the U.S. Mission in India continue to engage in strategic matters.
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