Where are we on the Quad? What have we accomplished with working groups?
Well, first, we had the first ever leaders-level meeting of the Quad. That was in and of itself very significant, because it just underscored the importance that the four countries — India, the United States, Japan, and Australia — attach to it. And what we’ve achieved already is bringing together four like-minded democracies with common purpose to deal with some of the most important problems and challenges facing our countries and in fact, facing the region, and even the world, starting with Covid-19. And a commitment to work together to finance, produce and distribute millions of vaccines.
Has there been any progress on the vaccine front?
Yeah, I think we are making progress, and when the leaders get together next they will be able to assess that. Since the first virtual leaders meeting, the second wave hit India. I’m proud that the United States was able to come to India assistance as India came to our assistance early during the pandemic when we had real challenges.
How do you see the China challenge?
For the United States, in a way as for India, it’s both one of the most consequential and most complicated relationships that we have. I think we have seen, unfortunately, the government in Beijing act more repressively at home and more aggressively abroad. In recent years, that posed a challenge for all of us. We see a relationship that is in parts adversarial, in parts competitive and also in parts cooperative. I think what we found is that the best, most effective way to engage China is working with other countries that are similarly situated, and that face similar challenges. India, of course, is a strong partner for the United States in this respect.
Do you think the era of cooperation with China is over?
No. I think the relationship has different elements in it. Cooperation remains one of them, because on some issues, its profoundly in our mutual interest to cooperate — climate may be the best example. That’s an issue that is important to all of us.
As you withdraw from Afghanistan, do you think it affects the US credibility as a partner?
It’s been 20 years, we have to remember why we went to Afghanistan in the first place. It was because we were attacked on 9/11. We went to do justice to those who attacked us and to try to make sure that it couldn’t happen again. And we’ve largely succeeded in that effort. Osama bin Laden was brought to justice 10 years ago, and Al Qaeda, in terms of its capacity to do that again from Afghanistan, that’s been vastly diminished.
It’s now 20 years, a trillion dollars later and more than 4,500 American soldiers who have lost their lives. Afghanistan ultimately has to be able to shape its own future. But with our support. Even as we withdraw our forces, we are staying very much engaged in Afghanistan, with a strong embassy, with programs to support women and girls, economic development, humanitarian assistance, and the security forces. We’re remaining very much engaged also, with our diplomacy, because the only resolution to the conflict in Afghanistan is at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield.
Pakistan continues to support the Taliban…
Pakistan has a vital role to play in using its influence with the Taliban, to do whatever it can to make sure that the Taliban does not seek to take the country by force.
When do we expect a presidential visit?
I can’t put a date on it. But I know that President Biden will very much look forward to visiting India, and similarly to having Prime Minister Modi in the United States. But no date yet.
India will will probably take delivery of S-400 missile systems from Russia later this year. How would that impact US-India ties?
Well, we have our laws, we will apply our laws. We shared our concerns with India about this. But I’m not going to get ahead of myself. We’ll see how things evolve in the coming months.
