New Delhi: US Department of Defense (Pentagon) on Thursday released its National Defense Strategy 2022 and stated that the Biden administration will advance its "major defense partnership” with India to enhance its ability to deter People’s Republic China’s aggression.
It will also ensure free and open access to the Indian Ocean region.
The National Defense Strategy 2022 has detailed the US Defense Department’s path forward for the decade — from helping to protect the American people, to promoting global security, to seizing new strategic opportunities, and to realizing and defending our democratic values.
The National Defense Strategy 2022 has directed the Biden administration to act urgently to sustain and strengthen US deterrence, with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the pacing challenge for the Department.
What the National Defense Strategy 2022 says about relations with India in the Indian Ocean Region?
In order to sustain a free and open regional order, and deter attempts to resolve disputes by force, the US Defense Department under Llyod Austin said it will reinforce and build out a resilient security architecture in the Indo-Pacific region.
With India, the Pentagon said it will advance its major defense partnership to enhance its ability to deter PRC aggression and ensure free and open access to the Indian Ocean region.
It further stated that it will support New Delhi to address acute forms of grey zone coercion from the PRC’s campaigns to establish control over the disputed land borders.
However, it also maintained that the department will continue to prioritize maintaining open lines of communication with the PLA and managing competition responsibly.
Entire report can be read here: 2022 National Defense Strategy of the United States
