India and the US are united in the fight against terrorism but the relationship between both the countries extends further to nipping the threat in the bud through ‘de-radicalisation’ of vulnerable communities, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said on Thursday.
“…Our collaboration extends beyond fighting terrorism…but also how we can de-radicalise communities by investing in opportunities in some of our poorest areas, reaching out to communities who feel like they are on the grip and ensure that those who threaten peace and stability will face accountability,” Garcetti said in his address on ‘Peace and the role of the US-India defence and security partnership’. The ambassador’s tenure in India will end on January 20. In March last year, the US and India held the 20th meeting of the counterterrorism joint working group, wherein both share intelligence, he said.
“Our cooperation includes increased information sharing, capacity building and coordinated efforts to bring perpetrators to justice. I hope you will see in the (Tahawwur) Rana (a key conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack) case in a matter of weeks, if not just a few months from now, who is responsible for the attacks here,” Garcetti said.
The ambassador highlighted that India and the US are major defense partners and both the countries are developing and co-producing weapons together.
“From Apache helicopters to C130 transport aircrafts, US defense exports to India have grown to near zero in 2008 to over $25 billion in 2023,” he said.
Garcetti said that the US and India relationship is not additive but is multiplicative.To a question on the US President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to raise tariffs and its impact on India, he said that the idea was not to launch a trade war but to ensure fair trade. Asked about the indictment of Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani and seven others in a bribery scam in the US, he refused to comment but said that America has an “independent criminal justice system”. “It’s different from a lot of countries,” he said. On whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be invited for the swearing in ceremony of Trump, he said he does not have any information.
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