Pompeo and Esper Bring Anti-China Campaign to India

Oct. 27, 2020 (EIRNS)—Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper took their anti-China road show to New Delhi yesterday for the third U.S.-India 2+2 meeting with their Indian counterparts. Pompeo and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar “agreed that the U.S.-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership is critical to the security and prosperity of both countries, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world,” declared the State Department readout of their bilateral meeting. “Today is a new opportunity for two great democracies like ours to grow closer,” Pompeo pompously said before the 2+2 meeting. “There is much more work to do for sure. We have a lot to discuss today: Our cooperation on the pandemic that originated in Wuhan, to confronting the Chinese Communist Party’s threats to security and freedom to promoting peace and stability throughout the region.”

At the 2+2 press availability Pompeo declared: “The United States will stand with the people of India as they confront threats to their freedom and sovereignty,” Pompeo promised. “Our leaders and our citizens see with increasing clarity that the CCP is no friend to democracy, the rule of law, transparency, nor to freedom of navigation—the foundation of a free and open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

Esper and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh “applauded the strength of the defense relationship between the United States and India, and reinforced their commitment to deepening military-to-military cooperation, including joint-service cooperation; increasing secure communications capabilities; and enhancing mutual logistics engagements,” reported the Pentagon readout of their bilateral. “Secretary Esper and Minister Singh commended the conclusion of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) during the visit, and welcomed the expansion of information-sharing.”

Esper and Singh signed the BECA, today. The agreement would provide India with access to a range of topographical, nautical and aeronautical data that is considered vital for targeting of missiles and armed drones, Reuters reported. It would also allow the United States to provide advanced navigational aids and avionics on U.S.-supplied aircraft to India, an Indian defense source said.

Aside from China and defense cooperation, the ministers also discussed increasing collaboration on measures to counter the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthening the U.S.-India trade and economic relationship, according to the joint press statement issued by the State Department.