India needs to be one of America's closest partners: Pompeo
What's the story
India needs to be central to what the Trump administration does in South and Central Asia, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Friday. "They (India) ought to be one of our closest partners and we ought to do everything we can to make sure that we achieve that," he said.
US-India meet
Mattis and Pompeo to meet Sushma and Nirmala
Pompeo was responding to questions from Senator Chris Coons about how to further strengthen the US-India relationship. "Defense Secretary (James) Mattis and I will meet with our Indian counterparts some time this summer," Pompeo added. The decision about the meeting was taken when PM Narendra Modi was hosted by President Donald Trump at the White House on June 26 last year.
Strengthening relationships
India-US relationship enjoys support in US Congress
Earlier this week, a top US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said the US-India partnership is rooted in shared democratic values and a commitment to a rules-based order. "The Trump administration supports India's emergence as a leading global power and as a key partner in our efforts to ensure that the Indo-Pacific is a region of peace, stability, and growing prosperity," Nauert added.