New Delhi, March 25: U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby stated on Tuesday that the United States holds India in high regard. He emphasized India’s proud strategic tradition and noted that decisions made in New Delhi will significantly influence the future of the Indo-Pacific region.
Top Pentagon officials are currently in New Delhi to engage in discussions with senior officials to strengthen U.S.-India relations.
During a special session at the Anant Center, Colby remarked, “The United States views India with deep respect. As a republic of continental significance, a nation with a proud strategic tradition, and a country whose decisions will profoundly shape the Indo-Pacific and the broader international landscape, we recognize the critical differences in our histories, geographies, and perspectives. Yet, we share a fundamental belief that the future of Asia should be determined by sovereign nations capable of charting their own paths.”
He asserted that the U.S. sees India not just as a major partner but as an essential ally in ensuring a long-term favorable balance of power in Asia.
Colby elaborated, “India’s importance is not limited to its size and economic potential; it is also tied to its geographic and strategic position. Your country is situated along the Indian Ocean, the nexus of the Indo-Pacific. India has a long tradition of strategic autonomy, and its capacity is continuously growing, allowing it to influence events beyond its borders. As the world’s largest republic, its symbolic and political significance is profound. It possesses strong, self-reliant, and capable military forces willing and able to take on significant security responsibilities.”
Highlighting India’s indispensable role, the U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary described Washington’s approach to the strategic partnership with India as interest-based and realistic, driven by geopolitics and incentives rather than mere idealism.
He stated, “We clearly understand that India has its own interests, strategic culture, and priorities, and it does not hesitate to advance them.”
Colby further noted that the perspectives of India and the U.S. appear largely aligned.
He mentioned, “Foreign Minister Dr. Jaishankar has characterized India’s perspective as ‘India First’ and its strategic thinking as ‘India Way.’ Similar to ‘America First’ and ‘Flexible Realism,’ both ‘India First’ and ‘India Way’ emphasize a realistic approach to foreign policy.”
Colby added that the framework for the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership, signed last October by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, provides a robust foundation for progress in this partnership.
He concluded, “Our focus now should be on moving beyond these important agreements to serve a larger strategic purpose.”
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