Austin will clarify the terms and conditions of CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). Accordingly, the US will not give its weapons to the countries buying weapons from Iraq, North Korea and Russia.
US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin will arrive in India on Friday. This is the last stop of his first foreign trip. US Department of Defense Pentagon spokesman John Sapel said that America’s strategic relations with India were important. In India, Austin will discuss several important issues such as China’s aggressiveness in Indo-Pacific, Pakistan, Afghanistan and terrorism with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh.
A high official travelling with Austin, on the condition of anonymity, said that the defence deal would also be discussed during this time. During this tour, purchases of 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones from the US could be stamped. Austin will clarify the terms and conditions of CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) so that a path is paved for defence deals with India. In 2017, the US introduced the CAATSA Bill.
Accordingly, the US will not give its weapons to the countries buying weapons from Iraq, North Korea and Russia. Austin will also apprise India of the Biden administration’s policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan. American expert Lisa Curtis said, “The United States is devising a comprehensive strategy on China. Under this, the United States wants to see China as a country whose expansionary policy is monitored with fellow countries.”
Indo-Pacific On Biden’s Agenda
Austin will also discuss with Prime Minister Modi during the two-day visit. They can also express their views on the growing military friendship of America and India and new challenges facing the world from the platform of an Indian think tank.
During the meeting, the US will keep away from Kashmir and human rights issues, so that the relationship between the two countries is not lost.
Biden also wants a strong relationship with India. Since Biden’s swearing-in, the White House, the US State Department, and the Department of Defense have used the term Indo-Pacific 90 times in their statements.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
