WASHINGTON, Feb 15: The White House has said the US is working closely with its allies, including India, amid the Russian invasion into Ukraine fears.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday said, “The Quad leaders discussed the threat that Russia’s aggression poses not only to Ukraine but to the entire international rules-based order, which has provided a foundation for decades of shared security and prosperity for the region and around the globe.
“Throughout his (US Secretary of State Antony Blinken) meetings with the Quad Partners, Secretary Blinken discussed the challenges Russia poses to the rules based on international order and our readiness to support our European allies.
“We will continue to build a strategic partnership in which the United States and India work together to promote stability in South Asia, collaborate in new domains such as health, space, cyberspace, which is important to deepen our economic and technology cooperation and contribute to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“We recognize that India is a like-minded partner and leader in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region. Active in and connected to Southeast Asia, a driving force of the Quad and an engine for regional growth and development.”
Speaking on sanction on Russia over Ukraine, the Deputy Press Secretary pointed out that “we are not going to get into specifics. We have been really clear about our discussions. So not going into details on that but beyond what we have read out from the Secretary’s meeting in Melbourne last week, but we are working closely with a range of allies important partners, including India.”
In the Quad meeting held last week, Blinken said the “core principles threatened by Russia’s aggression” were crucial for the stability in the Indo-Pacific.
On Friday, the Western leaders vowed to take “swift and deep sanctions” against Russia if it tries to invade Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia has continue to amass its troops, including submarines and amphibious landing ship in the Black Sea and short-range ballistic missiles, tanks and howitzers around Ukraine’s northeastern edges, according to an exclusive CNN report.
(UNI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
