US seeks ambitious relationship with 'global power' India

NEW DELHI -- The U.S. desires a "new age of ambition" in its relationship with India and sees the country as a rising defense and security partner in the Indo-Pacific and globally, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday.

"We see each other for what we are, great democracies, global powers and really good friend," he said, signaling the Trump administration's intent of building up the relationship as a counterbalance to China.

In a video message to the U.S.-India Business Council's India Ideas summit, Pompeo said India is a "key pillar" of U.S. President Donald Trump's foreign policy -- "multilateralism that actually works."

The mention of India as a security partner comes as the two countries hold joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean. Those exercises are being held parallel to a trilateral exercise between the U.S., Japan and Australia in the Philippine Sea.

While the twin drills are not coordinated, the fact that the four countries are simultaneously conducting military exercises in the wider Indo-Pacific is seen by analysts as more than a mere coincidence. 

The four countries form the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or "Quad," an informal strategic forum between Canberra, New Delhi, Tokyo and Washington, which Beijing has previously expressed reservations about for its potential to contain China in the Indo-Pacific.

"We've also revived the so-called Quad, comprised of the U.S., India, Japan and Australia," Pompeo said in his message.

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