Mike Pompeo assures the US stands with India to deal with any threat
New Delhi : US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assured that his country will always be standing with "India to deal with any threat." The statement is an enough alarm for China which has been in a standoff situation with India at Galwan Valley.
Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark T Esper had landed in India on Monday for crucial talks aimed at boosting defence and security ties between the two countries.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval discussed with them about 175-day long standoff in Ladakh.
"We paid our respect to the soldiers who laid down their lives in the Galwan Valley recently," Mr Pompeo said after a visit to Delhi's National War Memorial, referring to the 20 soldiers who died in a clash with Chinese troops on June 15.
"The US will stand with India in its efforts to defend its sovereignty and its liberty... Our nations are committed to working together into expanding our partnerships across many fronts," he added.
Strongly denouncing China, Mr Pompeo said the coronavirus pandemic that "came from Wuhan" has set off a "robust discussion" about the Chinese Communist Party.
"Our leaders and our citizens see with increasing clarity that the Chinese Communist Party is no friend to democracy, the rule of law, transparency nor the freedom of navigation, the foundation of a free and open and prosperous Indo-Pacific. I'm glad to say India and the US are taking all steps to strengthen cooperation against all threats and not just those posed by the CCP," he added.