U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has scheduled a visit to India on Thursday, during which he will be visiting New Delhi, the energetic and lively capital. The main objective of his visit is to participate in a series of thorough bilateral deliberations with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. These discussions are anticipated to be extensive and diverse, encompassing various crucial matters of significance to both countries, such as defence and security affairs, along with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.
Blinken and U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin are anticipated to partake in the fifth 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue slated for Friday. This noteworthy diplomatic assembly will furnish an opportunity for substantial deliberations between Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
In this particular context, the bilateral ties between the United States and India have reached a pivotal intersection. These two nations exhibit strong cooperation across diverse domains, encompassing geopolitics, economy, and security. The forthcoming visit by Blinken and Austin is anticipated to reinforce and strengthen the strategic partnership between the United States and India. It is likely that discussions during the visit will encompass matters pertaining to China, including the South China Sea situation, the dispute between China and India concerning their shared border, and China's sphere of influence within the region.
Furthermore, the upcoming meeting may address the recent diplomatic tensions between India and Canada. The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, previously made accusations against New Delhi, implicating their involvement in the assassination of separatist Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In response, India vehemently refuted these allegations, deeming them "absurd". In the meantime, the United States conveyed its "deep concern" and expressed support for the investigation carried out by Ottawa in relation to this matter.
These negotiations are anticipated to explore matters related to regional affairs and the establishment of collaborative strategies on multilateral platforms and frameworks, including the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. Often known as the Quad, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is an informal strategic alliance between India, Australia, the United States, and Japan. The primary objective of the Quad is to preserve the "freedom and openness of navigation" in the Asia-Pacific region, an area where China is actively progressing in terms of its military and civilian infrastructure.
The timing of Blinken's arrival is timely, occurring just prior to the projected meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in San Francisco. This highly anticipated rendezvous between the two eminent figures of the leading global powers is regarded as a momentous juncture in U.S.-China relations.
Nonetheless, Michael Kugelman, a proficient authority at the South Asia Research Center of the Wilson Center in Washington, cautioned New Delhi against excessively interpreting the dialogue between Biden and Xi, just as he advised Washington to refrain from overly scrutinizing periodic signs of conciliation in India-China relations. He posits that while ample measures of reconciliation exist between the two nations to avert a complete breakdown in their relationship, at its core, their relationship remains competitive and intermittently antagonistic. These potential dynamics serve as the impetus behind the alliance between the United States and India.
In brief, the upcoming visit by Blinken and Austin is expected to contribute to the reinforcement of strategic cooperation between the United States and India when it comes to addressing global and regional challenges. We anticipate that this meeting will generate favourable results, thereby setting the stage for future relations between the United States and India.