Intent is to strengthen Indo-US defence ties: James Mattis

Washington: The "intent" of the Trump administration is to continue strengthening Indo-US ties and make sure that it gets stronger every year, Defence Secretary James Mattis today said as he met visiting National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at the Pentagon.

Doval stressed on bringing in ideas with "innovative changes" and improvements that serve the interest of the two countries in the region and also globally.

This was Doval's first meeting with the new US Defence Secretary, who after taking over had indicated continuation of the upwards trajectory of the Indo-US defence relationship.

"Democracy like ours need this sort of dialogue. We had a strengthening of the relationship over the last several years and no relationship stays the same, either decline or get better and get stronger," Mattis, the retired general, said welcoming the Indian delegation led by Doval to the Pentagon including Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna.

"Intent here today is to continue to strengthen the relationship and make sure that it gets stronger every year between the two democracies that have many common interests, many common security challenges," the Defence Secretary said.

"We are eager to listen to and learn about each other and show mutual benefit and mutual respect that we have between our militaries. So, in your role as the National Security Advisor, your ideas are welcome here," Mattis said in his opening remarks.

Echoing Mattis, Doval stressed that the Modi government would like to nurture this relationship further.

"We have a very special relationship. This relationship is something that we highly value and we would like to nurture further," said Doval.
"You very rightly said the relationship should not be static... So if you want the relationship to further strengthen, you should keep having incremental improvement, and find out in what ways you deepen them, strengthen them for making the world more safe, more stable," Doval said.

"We share the values, we share the democracy. We all have a very common objective and interest both in the region that I come from and also globally... If we are able to work together, share our ideas and thoughts and bring about some new innovative changes and improvements that could really serve the purpose of the relationship for each other States... the core values of the States are very very similar and common," the National Security Advisor said.

"I am very happy that in recent years there has been substantial improvement in the relationship. With the new administration, here we are very hopeful that it will further strengthen," Doval said in his remarks.

A day earlier, Doval met his American counterpart Lt Gen H R McMaster at the White House.

"They committed to work together as partners to combat the full spectrum of terrorist threats, affirming that both great democracies stand together in the fight against terrorism," a senior White House official said.

McMaster met with Doval late yesterday to discuss a range of issues and "identify opportunities to set a course" for India and the US.

"LTG McMaster noted that President (Donald) Trump looks forward to hosting Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi in the United States later this year," the official added.