The last decade has seen promising trends in the US-India defense trade and technology relationship.
The current Indo-China border tension reflects a growing Chinese invasion and coercion trend in the region and has been pointed out by Colin Kahl, President Joe Biden’s pick for the top Pentagon policy job, toward colleagues and allies of the United States.
Presenting before members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing for the Secretary of Defense Policy, Mr. Kahl, however, expressed the American resolve to stand by his colleagues and allies.
“The Indo-China border tension reflects a trend toward increased aggression and assertiveness by China in the region toward allies and allies of the United States,” Mr. Kahl said.
However, we will continue to stand by our partners and partners and support our ongoing efforts to end the situation. If confirmed, I will continue to closely monitor the situation as both sides work towards a peaceful resolution, ”he said, in written reply to questions for his confirmation hearing.
The past decade has seen promising trends in the US-India defense trade and technology relationship, he said, if confirmed, it would work to keep up with these trends, with a focus on key procurement and high-end technology Is included.
Answering a question on India, Mr. Kahl said that if confirmed, he would position India to cooperate more closely with the US and Indian terrorists to pursue common interests in India and the Pacific. Will continue to operate as a “major defense partner”.
“To this end, I will support efforts to strengthen inter-capacity, expand bilateral and multilateral security cooperation across the region, and enhance defense trade and technology sharing,” he said.
He said he would join with like-minded partners to take advantage of regular senior-level bilateral and multilateral engagements.
“To continue the US-India partnership, I would prioritize some promising areas of cooperation. These include sharing information and deepening mutual logistics operations, enhancing our defense trade and technology relationship and expanding high-end cooperation in the maritime domain in the Indian Ocean region and South-East Asia, ”said Mr. Kahl.
“The important thing is that I would like to expand the Quad, Organization of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) mechanisms and other regional engagements with like-minded partners in the region,” he said.
In response to questions from senators during his confirmation hearing on Thursday, Mr. Kahl said the biggest opportunity is growing concern and recognition that more assertive China has produced.
He said, “I think our allies and allies are very nervous. Frankly, I think the epidemic and the initial cover up of China’s epidemic, and some of the wolf warrior diplomats during the epidemic, have brought us Have created opportunities to keep tinkering with those who are increasingly concerned about Beijing, ”he said.
“We could not agree more about our alliances and the importance of emphasizing our partnership. This is one of the largest asymmetric gains in the United States. No other global power has the network of allies and partners that we have. And if I am confirmed, a big part of my job will be to nurture those relationships, ”he said.
He said that the United States has vast opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region.
“I think the previous administration made some significant progress in this area, as did the Obama administration. I think we don’t have opportunities to work only with our treaty allies like Japan and South Korea and Australia and the Philippines But with countries like Singapore and Vietnam and others in ASEAN. And I think opportunities are increasing with India. So, I really think this is an area where we have a huge potential is.
Senator Jack Reid, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the US should adopt a long-term approach to strategic competition with China, a challenge Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has described as a reasonable threat to the Department of Defense.
“Competing effectively with China requires that we develop new technologies to rival China’s progress in new operational concepts to ensure the desired effect against China’s aggression”.
According to Mr. Kahl, China is the only country in the world that can systematically challenge the United States that is in the economic sphere, the technical domain, the military domain, and, frankly, the international system in a more comprehensive way.
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