The US will support India’s “continued rise and regional leadership” as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy to firmly anchor Washington in the region facing China’s “harmful behaviour”, the Joe Biden administration announced on Friday. The document added that the intensifying focus was due in part to the challenges posed by China. Briefing journalists on the new strategic document, a senior US administration official acknowledged India’s role in the Quad and maintained that it was in a “very different place” compared to the other members. The official had been asked specifically about the possibility of an AUKUS-like defence pact with India. And I think that, you know, China’s behaviour in the Line of Actual Control has had a galvanising impact on India,” the official said.

Source: The Telegraph February 13, 2022 02:19 UTC