India optimistic about defence talks with US amid Russia-Ukraine war: Report

The US and Indian foreign and defence ministers will meet in Washington next week for a 2+2 dialogue.

According to a report by Bloomberg, India is optimistic about military cooperation talks with the US next week, despite the Biden administration’s increasing vocal criticism on New Delhi for its unwillingness to severely criticize Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“Recent public statements from Washington warning India of the consequences of purchasing weapons and discounted oil from Russia run counter to private discussions between the two countries,” the people familiar with the matter said to Bloomberg.

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They cited talks last month in New Delhi with US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, who offered assistance in locating alternative weapons sources to counter Pakistan and China.

The US and Indian foreign and defence ministers will meet in Washington on Monday and Tuesday for the first two-plus-two dialogue since Joe Biden took office, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Apart from defence cooperation, these meetings will also discuss Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine and the resulting sanctions, according to the people.

Tensions between the United States and India have risen in recent weeks as a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unwillingness to criticise Putin, complicating a budding security partnership between the democracies aimed at countering China’s influence.

Biden’s top economic adviser, Brian Deese, said on Wednesday that the US has warned India about the consequences of a “more explicit strategic partnership.” “There are certainly areas where both China and India’s decisions in the context of the invasion have disappointed us,” Deese, the White House National Economic Council director, told reporters.