India plays a critical role in US strategy: Blake
September 29th, 2011 - 1:14 pm ICT by IANSWashington, Sep 29 (IANS) With the centre of geopolitics moving toward Asia, India plays a critical role in US strategy, says a US official suggesting anti-piracy efforts could spur three-way cooperation with India and China.
While hailing democratic India as a positive force in Asia, it insisted that Washington should also work with China, assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia Robert Blake said here Wednesday.
In a speech on US regional strategy, he said Washington’s “strategic relations with India will shape the world we live in, as the world settles into the still young, and at times turbulent, 21st century”.
Noting that naval power by Britain in the 19th century and the US in the 20th century had helped ensure global commerce, Blake said: “Perhaps it will be the cooperation of the American, Indian and Chinese navies that ensure global commercial routes are protected and enhanced in the 21st century.”
“It is for this very reason that eliminating the scourge of piracy could be a natural way for the United States, India and China to begin to cooperate at sea,” Blake said at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.
Echoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s remarks in a speech in Chennai in July saying that New Delhi “has the potential to positively shape the future” of the region, Blake called India a “pillar of stability” that can “help ensure that the Asia of the 21st century is one defined by open markets, open societies and open governance”.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
- India's rise will reshape global system, says US - Nov 05, 2011
- US committed to India n-deal despite Japan disaster - Mar 19, 2011
- Obama visit to underscore India's growing leadership: US - Oct 15, 2010
- India partnership at heart of 21st century vision: US official - Oct 13, 2011
- US seeks expanded military ties with India, China - Feb 09, 2011
- Business ties, AfPak to be 'big focus' of Obama visit - Oct 02, 2010
- The China challenge: Present and former NSAs debate India's options - Feb 28, 2012
- India-US ties can become pivot for global peace: Report - Sep 16, 2011
- US official in India to push defence sales - Feb 08, 2011
- US bets on India, says Pakistan's a problem in Afghanistan - Oct 13, 2011
- `First US-Japan-India trilateral not aimed at China' (Lead) - Dec 20, 2011
- First US-Japan-India trilateral, say not aimed at China - Dec 20, 2011
- India committed to ensuring safety of sea lanes: Antony - Oct 12, 2010
- Maritime piracy can be defeated if UN takes lead: Antony - May 21, 2011
- India will grow in strategic importance, says US - Nov 02, 2011
Tags: anti piracy, arun kumar, assistant secretary, central asia, chennai, critical role, democratic india, geopolitics, global commerce, hillary clinton, johns hopkins university, navies, open governance, open markets, open societies, pillar, regional strategy, relations with india, robert blake, scourge