Is India's distance from Russia and China increasing?
Digital Desk, New Delhi. The US administration sees India's reduction in Russian oil imports and its strengthening defense partnership with the US as a strategic advantage.
This approach is proving helpful in strengthening the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. An official informed lawmakers about this at a Congressional hearing this week.
India is reducing Russian oil imports
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia S. Paul Kapoor, replying before the House subcommittee, said that the Trump administration's stance on India, discounted purchase of Russian crude oil and long-standing defense ties with Russia is positive.
When an MP asked whether India had stopped buying Russian oil, he said, 'I don't know how it will be done, but there seems to be a positive step in that direction.
According to Kapoor, India is reducing purchases of Russian oil and moving away from it, while increasing purchases of American energy.
Balance of power in the Indo-Pacific
Kapoor described defense cooperation as a strong pillar of the relationship. He mentioned the sale of American weapons systems would be helpful in protecting India's sovereignty and would boost American manufacturing jobs. He said that these deals are not only transactional but also strategically necessary.
Speaking to the panel, Kapoor said, 'An India that can be independent and stand up for itself and maintain its freedom to act, actually works to our strategic advantage and promotes our strategic interests.' He described India's growing military and economic power as a direct response to China's regional ambitions.
Responding to China's ambitions is in American interest
In geopolitical terms, Kapoor said a self-reliant India 'can take a large part of the Indo-Pacific off China's plate and prevent China from becoming a major power in the region'.
He stressed that India does not need to become a proxy for American interests. He did not need to go too far to support our strategic interests, and argued that India remaining independent was a strategic victory for us.
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