The Evening Wrap: U.S., India to intensify defence ties

The Hindu Newsletter - The biggest news stories from today [logo] The Evening Wrap Saturday | 20 March, 2021 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( U.S., India resolve to intensify defence cooperation India on Saturday [resolved to intensify defence cooperation]( with the U.S. Central Command in Florida and with the U.S. Commands in the Indo-Pacific region and Africa. The announcement in this regard was made by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who held talks with U.S. Secretary of Defence General (Retd.) Lloyd James Austin III who described the partnership as a “central pillar” of the American policy for the Indo-Pacific. “We reviewed the wide gamut of bilateral and multilateral exercises and agreed to pursue enhanced cooperation with the US Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and Africa Command. Acknowledging that we have in place the foundational agreements, LEMOA, COMCASA and BECA, we discussed steps to be taken to realise their full potential for mutual benefit,” said Mr. Singh at a joint meeting with the media at the Vigyan Bhavan. He said the bilateral discussion covered “military-to-military engagement across services, information sharing, cooperation in emerging sectors of defence, and mutual logistics support”. [U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd J. Austin to inspect Tri-Service Guard of Honour at Vigyan Bhawan Lawn in New Delhi on Saturday, March 20, 2021. ] Earlier in the day, the visiting Secretary of Defense paid tributes at the National War Memorial and laid a wreath. He arrived here on Friday and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “India in particular is an increasingly important partner among today’s rapidly shifting international dynamics. I reaffirm our commitment to a comprehensive and forward looking defence partnership with India as a central pillar to our approach to the region,” said Mr. Austin who is on a three-day visit on his first trip after taking charge on January 22 as part of the Biden-Harris administration. Mr. Austin’s visit is crucial as it comes in the midst of expectations that the U.S. is likely to deliver a message over India’s plans to acquire the Russian S-400 missile defence system in the coming months. The move could attract U.S. sanctions under a law named CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). In a clear hint to Beijing’s growing military activities in the South China Sea region, Mr. Austin said the India-U.S. defence partnership will ‘grow’ in the coming years. [underlineimg] U.S. Defence Secretary brings up human rights concerns The [U.S. Defence Secretary also addressed the issue of human rights in India]( during his meetings with Cabinet Ministers here on Saturday. An informed source said the issue also came up during his conversation with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar which also covered a broad range of topics like the situation in Afghanistan and the West Asian tension. The Defense Secretary said as the two largest democracies in the world, human rights and values are important to us and we will lead with these values,” said the source. Earlier, addressing a select group of American and Indian media outlets, Mr. Austin said he raised the violation of human rights of the Muslims in Assam with the Indian side. “I did have a conversation with other members of the Cabinet on this issue,” Mr. Austin was quoted saying by the NDTV. He however clarified that he “did not have an opportunity to talk to” Prime Minister Narendra Modi on reports of human rights violations targeting minority communities. “We have to remember that India is our partner, a partner whose partnership we value. And I think partners need to be able to have those kinds of discussions. And certainly we feel comfortable doing that. And you can have those discussions in a very meaningful way and make progress,” he said in a report that appeared on NDTV online. [underlineimg] China says it has agreed to work with U.S. on climate change, other issues China on Saturday said that it had [agreed with the U.S. to take up climate change and a handful of other issues](, signaling a possible modicum of progress at recently concluded talks that were otherwise marked by acrimonious public exchanges over the issues that divide the world's two largest economies. The official Xinhua News Agency said in a dispatch from Anchorage, Alaska, where the two-day meeting wrapped up on Friday, that China and the U.S. had decided to set up a working group on climate change and hold talks “to facilitate activities of ... diplomatic and consular missions” and on issues related to each other's journalists. The two countries feuded over journalist visas and consulates during the Trump administration, and climate change is seen as one area where they may be able to cooperate. Senior Biden administration officials held their first face-to-face meeting with their Chinese counterparts in Alaska since taking office earlier this year. The Xinhua report did not provide any details on the climate change working group, other than to say both countries were committed to enhancing communication and cooperation in the field. [underlineimg] Assam Elections | Modi brings up ‘toolkit’ Prime Minister [Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress]( of openly supporting forces that are out to finish the identity of Assam tea and destroy the tea industry. Addressing an election rally in this Upper Assam town, a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi interacted with tea garden workers here, Mr. Modi alleged that the party is playing with the "pride and glory" of the oldest industry of the State. He said a toolkit recently sought to defame Assam tea, famous across the world, and Yoga, the legacy of our ancient saints, as part of a "conspiracy". "A conspiracy was hatched against Assam tea. You must have heard about a toolkit. It sought to destroy the tea gardens of Assam. No Indian will allow that," he said. The Prime Minister was apparently referring to Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg's controversial toolkit, which she tweeted and then deleted, outlining ways in which people can participate in the farmers protest. "Congress is supporting such forces. And while doing so it has the temerity to come here and seek votes of the tea garden workers. They have fallen so low. Who can understand the problems of tea workers better than a 'chaiwala'," Mr. Modi said referring to his humble background when as a small boy he used to sell tea at a railway station and on trains in his native Gujarat. [underlineimg] Imran Khan tests positive for coronavirus Pakistan Prime Minister [Imran Khan on Saturday tested positive for the COVID-19]( and is self-isolating at home, his top aide on health Dr Faisal Sultan said, two days after he got the first shot of vaccination. [Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan receiving a dose of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine against the Covid-19 coronavirus, at the Prime Minister's House in Islamabad on March 18.] Mr. Khan, 67, was vaccinated on Thursday as part of the nationwide anti-coronavirus vaccination campaign which is underway in its first phase. [underlineimg] Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments [India reported 40,953 new coronavirus infections]( in the 24 hours ending 8 a.m. on March 20, the highest single-day rise in 111 days, taking the country's cumulative COVID-19 tally to 1,15,55,284. The country also reported 188 deaths during this time taking the total death toll to 1,59,558, with 2,88,394 active cases currently, the Health Ministry said on March 20. As per data released by the Ministry, currently Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh continue to report a spike in new cases. [underlineimg] In Brief Spectators from abroad will be [barred from the Tokyo Olympics]( when they open in four months, the IOC and local organisers said Saturday. The decision was announced after an online meeting of the International Olympic Committee, the Japanese government, the Tokyo government, the International Paralympic Committee, and local organisers. [underlineimg] Evening Wrap will return tomorrow. Today's Top Picks [[ Migrant workers staging a protest after one year complete of lockdown, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursday. March 18, 2021 ] Migrant workers face debt, job loss and separation from families]( [[ ] Who is Dattatreya Hosabale?]( [[ Biriyani centres see poor patronage during election time. Photo: ] A flavourless election for Tamil Nadu’s biriyani makers]( [[ ] Desperate Odisha tribe wants to move to Chhattisgarh]( Copyright @ 2021, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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