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Expect India to bring up Russia S-400 system issue at 2+2 talks: US defense secy
India was among among “consequential” emerging partners of the United States, US secretary of defense James Mattis said.
US secretary of defense James Mattis has said that he expects India to bring up the issue of Russian S-400 air defence systems at the 2+2 talks but he wants to hear the Indian side first.
“Certainly, the S-400s will probably be brought up. I anticipate it’ll be brought up by India, by the way. Again, we have a very transparent dialogue. It’s a dialogue between two coequal nations, sovereign nations, and we’ll discuss anything that they bring up, and certainly, there’ll be issues we bring up.”
“I want you to remember that freedom means that at times, nations don’t agree with each other. That doesn’t mean we can’t be partners. That doesn’t mean we don’t respect the sovereignty of those nations. So I’m sure it will come up there, but it’s right that I not speak here before I’ve even heard their point. So first, I want to listen to my counterpart,” he said.
Underscoring the importance of the relationship ahead of the 2+2 meeting, he told reporters on the way to India, India was among among “consequential” emerging partners of the United States.
At the ministerial, he added, he and he looks forward, along with secretary of state Mike Pompeo, “to discussing diplomatic and security issues, of course. That’s our portfolios. And my – and for my part, we’ll certainly be looking at how do we counter terrorism, increasing defense innovation.”
“In both countries, I might add, they have a strong technological bent in India, so this two-way street, not a one-way. And we are all, of course, looking for how can we enhance stability in South Asia? And I would point out that creating greater maritime security, considering the ocean that the Indian subcontinent faces, that will be something that is in the best interest of all the nations of the world that want to increase prosperity and the free trafficking of goods,” he added.
