Russia’s Possible Invasion of Ukraine; US anticipate India to stand by its side
United States has said it expects India to join the West if the Kremlin goes ahead with its alleged insurgency plan.
As the Biden administration chimes in on the impending Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States has said it expects India to join the West if the Kremlin goes ahead with its alleged insurgency plan.
Even though Russia has said it is withdrawing troops near its neighbor's borders, the US has viewed the claims with skepticism.
After the US claimed that Russia had added 7,000 more troops near Ukraine's borders in recent days, Biden said the likelihood of a Russian invasion remains "very high".
Speaking to reporters on 16th February 21’ , US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Russia and Ukraine were discussed during the recently concluded Quad ministerial meeting in Melbourne, which saw the participation of foreign ministers from Australia, India, Japan and the US.
He said there was a "strong consensus" for a peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis.
“One of the main tenants of the Quad is the strengthening of the rules-based international order. And it is a rules-based order that is equally applicable in the Indo-Pacific as it does in Europe, as it does elsewhere. We know that our Indian partners are committed to that rules-based international order. All the theories are there in that order. One of them is that borders cannot be redrawn by force,” Price said in response to a question.
“That, big countries cannot threaten small countries. That only the people of a particular country can be in a position to choose their foreign policy, their partnerships, their alliances, their associations. They are principles that apply equally in the Indo-Pacific as they do in Europe,” he said in an apparent reference to the aggressive behavior by China against its neighbours, including India.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Blinken said the US was doing everything it could to seek a peaceful solution to the Moscow crisis that was "unnecessarily precipitated" by Moscow.
India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's increasing military maneuvers in the region.
China claims almost all of the disputed South China Sea, although Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea
Price said Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of State S Jaishankar discussed defense issues, but refrained from commenting on any discussion on possible actions under the Anti-Sanitation Act (CAATSA) by the US's opponents of sanctions. Enacted by the US Congress in 2017, CAATSA provides for punitive action against any country engaged in transactions with the Russian defense and intelligence sectors.
"Our broad defense relationship was discussed, but I don't want to go further," Price said.
In October 2018, despite warnings from the Trump administration that proceeding with the contract may invite US sanctions, India entered into an agreement with Russia for USD 5 billion to buy five units of the S-400 air defense missile systems. The deal was signed.
Informative 😍