US envoy Eric Garcetti on Thursday emphasized the importance of strengthening the partnership between India and the United States amid global conflicts, asserting that “strategic autonomy” holds no ground in times of crisis. Addressing a defense news conclave at the United Services Institution (USI) in Delhi, Garcetti underscored the interconnected nature of the modern world, where distant wars can have far-reaching impacts, and stressed the necessity of concrete actions to enforce peace.
The comments by Garcetti come in the wake of several ongoing global conflicts, notably in Ukraine and the Israel-Gaza region. Highlighting India’s recent ties with Russia, especially following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit for the 22nd India-Russia annual summit, Garcetti reaffirmed the Biden administration’s stance that despite concerns, India remains a strategic partner for the US.
“I respect that India likes its strategic autonomy,” Garcetti began. “But in times of conflict, there is no such thing as strategic autonomy. During crises, it is imperative for trusted friends, brothers, and sisters to act together, regardless of the titles we adopt. The US and India need to know this together.”
Stressing the longstanding and evolving relationship between the two nations, Garcetti portrayed India-US ties as deep, ancient, and increasingly broad. However, he cautioned against complacency, urging both countries not to take their relationship for granted. He highlighted areas of comprehensive cooperation, including defense, joint military exercises, and India’s naval prowess in combating piracy and other sea-based challenges.
Garcetti envisioned the combined forces of the US and India as an “unstoppable force for good in the world.” He labeled the defense partnership between the two nations as one of the most consequential globally. “Our future is intertwined with India’s future, and the potential for our relationship is immense. Countries worldwide are looking at our partnership, hoping it works, because if it does, it won’t just serve as a counterbalance but a beacon of collaborative development, especially in defense and training,” he stressed.
The envoy pointed out that in emergencies, whether natural disasters or conflicts caused by human actions, the US and India would act as a robust stabilizing force for Asia and beyond. “We are no longer isolated by distance.
. Any war now affects us all. It is not enough to stand for peace; we must actively prevent those who ignore peaceful principles from continuing their aggression,” Garcetti asserted.
Reflecting on recent years, he referenced countries that have disregarded sovereign borders, emphasizing how critical borders are to global peace. Garcetti also touched upon the “humanitarian emergencies” witnessed along India’s northern border, the East China Sea, the Straits of Taiwan, and the Middle East.
Garcetti emphasized that his role was not to teach or preach but to listen and learn and remind both nations of their shared values. “Together, when we uphold principles and support each other through tough times, we demonstrate that these principles are the foundation of global peace. The world’s two largest democracies can significantly enhance regional security and stability.”
Highlighting the commonalities between the US and India, the envoy reiterated that both countries envision their futures aligned. “Any objective observer can see this in our commerce, population, and certainly in our security and future,” he noted.
Garcetti urged that the closer the US and India work together, the more they will mutually benefit. “The deeper our trusted relationships, the greater our gains. Conversely, cynical calculations will diminish our outcomes. Our relationship, while significant, still has scope to deepen. If we focus only inward, we neither meet the pace of today’s threats nor tackle challenges effectively.”
Addressing various contemporary threats, Garcetti cited issues such as state actors on India’s borders, climate change, cybersecurity threats, and other emergent challenges. He conveyed optimism that the US-India partnership could indeed form a resilient shield against multifaceted global threats.
(No editing done to the original text, courtesy of PTI)
