New US National Security Strategy says India a Global Power

The United States has acknowledged India as a “leading global power” and has said that it will support its leadership role in the Indo-Pacific region while unveiling its new National Security Strategy (NSS) on Dec.18. The NSS was unveiled by US President Donald Trump.

According to the NSS, the Indo-Pacific region “stretches from the west coast of India to the western shores of the United States and represents the most populous and economically dynamic part of the world.”

The United States has said that it will increase quadrilateral cooperation with Japan, Australia, and India. “We welcome India’s emergence as a leading global power and stronger strategic and defense partner,” the NSS statement said.

US President Donald Trump had met his Indian, Australian and Japanese counterparts on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Philippines and East Asia summit held in Manila in November this year to discuss the quadrilateral cooperation.

The White House document further said that the United States will expand defense and security cooperation with India. It also acknowledges India to be a Major Defense Partner and said that it will support India’s growing relationships throughout the region.

 “We will deepen our strategic partnership with India and support its leadership role in Indian Ocean security and throughout the broader region,” said the NSS statement.

 The NSS statement revealed that the United States is also concerned about an Indo-Pakistani military conflict that could lead to a nuclear exchange. However, the main concern of the United States in Central and South Asia is terrorism. “We seek an American presence in the region proportionate to threats to the homeland and our allies,” the statement said.

“We will expand our defense and security cooperation with India, a Major Defense Partner of the United States, and support India’s growing relationships throughout the region,” added the NSS statement.

 The document stated that United States wants India to invest more in the development of infrastructure in the Central and South-Asian region. “And we will encourage India to increase its economic assistance in the region,” said the statement.

India has already been lauded by the United States over assistance given to Afghanistan. India has also invested in the Chabahar Port in Iran, which connects it to Afghanistan, and to the rest of Asia.