An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Display

Mattis: U.S.-India Partnership Important for Indo-Pacific Stability


By Jim Garamone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
RELATED MEDIA
NEW DELHI —

Defense Secretary James N. Mattis arrived here yesterday, ready to engage with senior Indian officials to ensure the Indo-Pacific region remains free, safe, prosperous and secure.

Defense Secretary James N. Mattis speaks with the Indian defense minister.
Indian Minister of Defense Nirmala Sitharaman welcomes Defense Secretary James N. Mattis to New Delhi, Sept. 5, 2018. Mattis is in New Delhi for the U.S.-India “Two-plus-Two” ministerial dialogue, in which Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet with their Indian counterparts to discuss issues and reaffirm a shared vision for the region. DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando
Defense Secretary James N. Mattis speaks with the Indian defense minister.
Defense Discussion
Indian Minister of Defense Nirmala Sitharaman welcomes Defense Secretary James N. Mattis to New Delhi, Sept. 5, 2018. Mattis is in New Delhi for the U.S.-India “Two-plus-Two” ministerial dialogue, in which Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet with their Indian counterparts to discuss issues and reaffirm a shared vision for the region. DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando
Photo By: Lisa Ferdinando
VIRIN: 180905-D-BN624-0056

Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet in two-plus-two sessions with Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Mattis told reporters his visit to India “is a firm indicator of what we see as India’s place among our most strategic, and I would even call them ‘consequential,’ emerging partners.”

The secretaries will also meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval during the visit.

Mattis sees India taking a more prominent role in world affairs.

Shared Commitment

“Our nations share more than just democracy, of course,” he said. “We share a steadfast commitment to a safe and a secure, a prosperous, and especially, a free Indo-Pacific.”

The current system has allowed the countries of the region to prosper. The system “is underpinned by our steadfast commitment to the rule of law, the freedom of navigation, freedom from coercion for all nations no matter their size or the age of their independence,” the secretary said. “And as the world's largest democracy, we see India as taking on a greater regional and global responsibility, a stabilizing force.”

In the meetings, the leaders will examine how to counter terrorism and increase defense innovation. “We are all, of course, looking for how can we enhance stability in South Asia,” he said. “We look forward to discussing our respective visions for further strengthening this relationship.”

Mattis continued, “Relationships don't stay the same, ever. They get stronger or they get weaker. You pay attention, or you lose attention. So we are there to pay attention. We do not take the relationship for granted, and we'll be working to strengthen that.

“It is a steady relationship with honest discussions built on common ground that we share as democracies,” he added, “but it's ground that provides a firm foundation for our future relationship, a foundation that can take any perturbations in stride … without alarm.”

(Follow Jim Garamone on Twitter: @GaramoneDoDNews)