US Special Envoy Eric Garcetti talks about the implementation of the CAA citizenship law

“However, India is in many ways in the driver’s seat of the Quad talks,” he said (File)

New Delhi:

US envoy Eric Garcetti said on Friday that the Quad talks do reflect a “shared interest” in having a peaceful, democratic, just, open and responsible Indo-Pacific, while stressing that its member India “is in the driver’s seat” on many fronts Status ” ” grouping.

“The pace of our relationship will only continue to accelerate,” he said in response to a question about an Indian national facing murder-for-hire charges for allegedly plotting to kill a Khalistani separatist on US soil. Among this. “

“This is the first stress test of our new deepened relationship and so far I think both countries have passed the stress test, but there is still a long way to go. For us, without people disagreeing there is Life is much easier in a contested democracy. This is what democracy is about that we must defend,” the US envoy said.

He added: “I think this relationship will continue to be stronger than we have ever seen before. However, we will not abandon the principles that are important to this relationship.”

The panel discussion on “Convergence of ‘Pacific’ interests with India” centered around the functioning of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (commonly known as the “Quad”). India Today Conclave 2024.

The Quad, made up of India, the United States, Japan and Australia, has launched a series of initiatives over the past few years with the broad goal of ensuring peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. China believes the alliance is aimed at containing it.

The US Ambassador to India shared the stage with British High Commissioner Alex Ellis, Australian High Commissioner Philip Green and former Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.

“We have always said that the Quad is not a military alliance of the four of us. We have strong bilateral relations in all aspects of the Quad, in every country. They work in the strategic and military fields, they work in the economic field, they work in the people-to-people, cultural and work in education,” he said.

“However, the Quad does reflect values, geography and common interests, and we must have a peaceful, democratic, just, open and responsible Indo-Pacific region,” the U.S. envoy asserted.

He said this has happened at Quad in many ways, whether it’s thinking about ecological and climate issues or the emergencies we’ve seen during the pandemic, when the organization has truly “become a force for helping each other.”

“But India is in many ways in the driver’s seat of the Quad negotiations. And, I think that’s exciting for India,” he said.

The US envoy said he once described India as having a “love for geometric diplomacy” – triangles, squares, quadrilaterals.

He said: “The last multilateral institutions you can get are in places like the United Nations, which are important, accessible spaces… But they are just divided like the world. Bilaterals do help, but sometimes bilateralism is There is a limit.” said.

“So, I think there are indeed some common principles. In my discussions with National Security Advisor (Ajit) Doval, he said, ‘It’s not just strategy, it’s not just affinity’. Our thinking is really Similar, our “hearts are indeed similar. But in this moment where there is extremism, it’s really a question of ideology, whether it’s religious extremism or dictatorship versus democracy,” he said.

During the interaction, Garcetti emphasized, “We can be obsessed with the idea that a narcissism about small differences, that the few areas in which we focus, maybe democratic values, are sometimes different, divides us. But, the reality is We are very united.” The US envoy was also asked about the situation in India on Friday, strongly rejecting US criticism of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

The United States on Thursday said it was concerned about India’s CAA notification and was closely monitoring its implementation.

“In the United States, we feel strongly that… sensitive borders need to be protected. We are a nation of immigrant citizens, made richer by our diversity.

Secondly, we also understand India’s security needs. We know this very well. However, the principles of religious freedom and equality before the law are cornerstones of democracy.

“And, that’s why we focus on these things, it’s easier not to look at our friends. We invite you to do the same with our imperfect democracy, which is not a one-way street. But, you can’t give up on principle, no matter what you do How close you are to your friends…” he said.

Australian High Commissioner Green also responded to questions about AUKUS, the trilateral security agreement between Australia, the UK and the US, and why India was “hesitant to join the military bloc”.

Green said, therefore, it really should be India that decides its place in these partnerships.

“For us, the Quad is an attempt to deal with a region where competition is increasingly fierce, democracy is under threat, and countries are increasingly unable to pursue sovereignty in the way they want to, and are forced to make choices they don’t like. Economic coercion is a feature ,”He said.

Regarding Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, Ellis said, “This is a war that should never have happened… It’s shocking that it’s happening, and it’s happening, it’s shocking, it’s taking a horrific toll on people.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)