NEW DELHI: India and the US have agreed to enhance maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean, deepen defense ties and undertake joint efforts against terrorism.
In a day-long visit on Tuesday, US Defense Secretary James Mattis met with his Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi.
“It’s a historic opportunity to reshape the relationship, and the US recognizes India as a core of regional stability and security, and it reflects our desire for long-term strategic partnership in the 21st century,” Mattis said in a statement after the meeting.
Sitharaman said: “Defense cooperation between India and the US has grown significantly in recent years, and has emerged as a key pillar of our strategic partnership.”
Mattis, the Trump administration’s first Cabinet secretary to visit India, said “as global leaders, India and the United States resolve to work together to eradicate this scourge” of terrorism.
Mattis expressed appreciation over India’s role in “promoting democracy and security” in Afghanistan, but Sitharaman said: “There shall not be any Indian boots on the ground.”
An Indian Defense Ministry source told Arab News: “The US wants New Delhi to play a proactive role, but India isn’t willing to do that. This is a point of difference between the two countries.”
There was no announcement on the sale of Guardian unmanned drones to India. Washington had offered to sell them during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in June.
“The deal on the Guardian drones depends on the US Congress. The White House has just approved it,” Dhruva Jaishankar, a fellow in foreign policy studies at Brookings India, told Arab News.
There was no statement on the proposal to manufacture F-16 and F-18A fighter planes in India, as was anticipated.
“Secretary Mattis and I agreed that we need to expand on the progress already made by encouraging co-production and co-development efforts,” said Sitharaman. “I reiterated India’s deep interest in enhancing defense manufacturing in India.”
Chintamani Mohapatra, an academic at the New Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University, said: “Defense deals take time to mature. The important partnership between India and the US is important for global peace and stability, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Mattis said: “Maritime engagement is our top priority. Annual maritime security dialogue is an important mechanism to develop shared understanding of the challenges we face.”
Some experts say this is aimed at counterbalancing China’s growing maritime presence in the Indian Ocean.
“Beijing is using its maritime power to block freedom of navigation for other parties. That’s a major concern for both New Delhi and Washington,” said Jaishankar.
India, US deepen defense ties during Mattis visit
India, US deepen defense ties during Mattis visit
Trump accepts Nobel medal from Venezuelan opposition leader Machado
- Trump wrote: “Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect“
- Machado said the gift was in recognition of what she called his commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people
WASHINGTON: Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump on Thursday during a White House meeting, in a bid to influence his efforts to shape her country’s political future.
A White House official confirmed that Trump intends to keep the medal.
In a social media post on Thursday evening, Trump wrote: “Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you Maria!“
Machado, who described the meeting as “excellent,” said the gift was in recognition of what she called his commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people.
The White House later posted a photo of Trump and Machado with the president holding up a large, gold-colored frame displaying the medal. Accompanying text read, “To President Donald J. Trump In Gratitude for Your Extraordinary Leadership in Promoting Peace through Strength,” and labeled the gesture as a “Personal Symbol of Gratitude on behalf of the Venezuelan People.”
Machado’s attempt to sway Trump came after he dismissed the idea of installing her as Venezuela’s leader to replace the deposed Nicolas Maduro.
Trump openly campaigned for the prize before Machado was awarded it last month and complained bitterly when he was snubbed.
Though Machado gave Trump the gold medal that honorees receive with the prize, the honor remains hers; the Norwegian Nobel Institute has said the prize cannot be transferred, shared or revoked.
Asked on Wednesday if he wanted Machado to give him the prize, Trump told Reuters: “No, I didn’t say that. She won the Nobel Peace Prize.”
The Republican president has long expressed interest in winning the prize and has at times linked it to diplomatic achievements.
The lunch meeting, which appeared to last slightly over an hour, marked the first time the two have met in person.
Machado then met with more than a dozen senators, both Republican and Democratic, on Capitol Hill, where she has generally found more enthusiastic allies.
During the visit, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had looked forward to meeting Machado, but stood by his “realistic” assessment that she did not currently have the support needed to lead the country in the short term.
Machado, who fled the South American nation in a daring seaborne escape in December, is competing for Trump’s ear with members of Venezuela’s government and seeking to ensure she has a role in governing the nation going forward. After the United States captured Maduro in a snatch-and-grab operation this month, opposition figures, members of Venezuela’s diaspora and politicians throughout the US and Latin America expressed hope for Venezuela to begin a process of democratization.
HOPES OF A MOVE TO DEMOCRACY
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, one of the senators who met with Machado, said the opposition leader had told senators that repression in Venezuela was no different now than under Maduro.
Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez is a “smooth operator” who was growing more entrenched by the day thanks to Trump’s support, he said.
“I hope elections happen, but I’m skeptical,” said Murphy, of Connecticut.
Trump has said he is focused on securing US access to the country’s oil and economically rebuilding Venezuela. Trump has on several occasions praised Rodriguez, Maduro’s second-in-command, who became Venezuela’s leader upon his capture. In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, Trump said, “She’s been very good to deal with.”
Machado was banned from running in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election by a top court stacked with Maduro allies.
Outside observers widely believe Edmundo Gonzalez, an opposition figure backed by Machado, won by a substantial margin, but Maduro claimed victory and retained power. While the current government has freed dozens of political prisoners in recent days, outside groups and advocates have said the scale of the releases has been exaggerated by Caracas. In an annual address to lawmakers, Rodriguez called for diplomacy with the United States and said should she need to travel to Washington, she would do so “walking on her feet, not dragged there.”
She also said she would propose reforms to her country’s oil industry aimed at increasing access for foreign investors.
