‘A strong India is good for America’: Trump administration counters China’s control of Indo-Pacific

New Delhi: The United States views India as central to maintaining a favorable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region, a senior Trump administration official said on Tuesday, outlining a roadmap for deepening defense and strategic ties amid changing global dynamics.Speaking at an event at the Ananta Center, US Undersecretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby said India’s role is indispensable for regional peace and stability, especially at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions and growing concerns about China’s military assertiveness.He said: “The United States believes that India will play a central role in ensuring a favorable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. In this context, a strong and confident India is not only good for the Indian people, but also good for the Americans.”Colby stressed that while differences remain, the India-US partnership is rooted in shared strategic interests.“First, the United States and India do not need to agree on everything to cooperate effectively. What is important is that our interests and goals increasingly converge on the most basic issues,” he said.He added: “Differences and even disputes are fully compatible with deepening alliance and cooperation on strategic issues. The roots of our partnership are deeper than optics and more durable than superficial comity; rather, they are deeply rooted in enduring strategic common interests.”Corby highlighted shared goals, saying both countries benefit from an Indo-Pacific region in which no single country dominates, as well as from open trade and national autonomy.On defense cooperation, he stressed the need to prioritize physical capabilities.“With this in mind, one of the most encouraging developments in recent years has been the steady expansion of defense cooperation between the United States and India”.Colby quoted U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as saying that the bilateral defense relationship has never been stronger, with industrial and technological cooperation gaining momentum. He also pointed to the “Major Defense Partnership” framework finalized in October.“Our goals should be realistic: to ensure that our forces can effectively operate together when our interests are aligned, and to ensure that India has the capabilities it needs to defend its sovereignty and promote a favorable regional balance of power in all circumstances,” he said.He added that the United States is committed to expanding cooperation in areas such as long-range precision fires, resilient logistics, maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare and advanced technologies.Colby also emphasized the importance of joint production and joint development of defense equipment, while acknowledging challenges such as regulatory hurdles and procurement differences.“But they are not insurmountable and we should overcome them,” he said.He noted that while Washington aims to increase arms sales to India, it also supports New Delhi’s push for a stronger domestic defense industry.“A strong domestic industrial base enhances sovereignty and resilience. The United States supports this goal. India is well on its way,” he said.“India already has an impressive defense industrial base and India’s leadership in cutting-edge technologies will only further help expand our defense cooperation.”Corby reiterated that differences between the two countries are natural and should not hinder cooperation.“Strong partnerships thrive on honesty, respect and strategic clarity. The fact is that the United States and India will not agree on everything. “He said: “Indeed, it is in this spirit that we can say without embarrassment that India and the United States have not always been partners, or even friendly. Our histories and strategic cultures are different, and our interests have certainly diverged at times.”