India an essential partner for the US in QUAD: OfficialIndia an essential partner for the US in QUAD: Official

The US has sought to reach out to India after President Joe Biden's remarks that New Delhi is a 'shaky' partner among Quad states for its stand on Moscow, asserting that the world's biggest democracy is an essential partner of the grouping in the Indo-Pacific region, according to the economictimes.indiatimes.

India is an essential partner for the US in the Quad in realising the shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, notwithstanding New Delhi's ties with Moscow, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday. India is an essential partner of the United States as both the countries share the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

When asked how Quad partners see India's stand on Russia, Price said: "We are a partner of India now when it comes to shared interests when it comes to the values we share in a free and open Indo-Pacific. And we've invested in that relationship in terms of our defence and security. So historical relationships notwithstanding, we are a partner of choice for India now, as are many of our partners and allies around the world."

He referred to recent engagements that reinforced Washington's commitment to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

"The Secretary and the President, respectively, reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific in which the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states are respected, and countries are free from military, economic, and political coercion. In fact, we heard that emanate from the leaders' call on March 3. These are principles that we share with our Quad partners. They also reaffirmed their dedication to the Quad as a mechanism to promote regional stability and security."

While the other Quad countries - the US, Japan and Australia - have sanctioned Russian entities, India has refrained from imposing sanctions.

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