United States and Republic of India Relations

Floor Speech

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Mr. LOUDERMILK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the robust friendship and solidarity between the United States of America and the Republic of India.

Our two nations share a long history of partnership in response to the most ardent of global challenges. In 2007, Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, along with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister John Howard, created the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. This framework led to the creation of the Malabar naval exercise. This agreement has proven to be prescient given the Chinese Communist Party's recent malign actions in the South China Sea. In recognition of China's threatening posture, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Trump, along with their Japanese and Australian counterparts have invested in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue as a commitment to a more free and open Indo-Pacific. I urge our G-7 partners to consider inviting the Republic of India into the G-7 to further our multilateral cooperation.

During a previous meeting with the Consul General of India in Atlanta Dr. Swati Kulkarni, I learned of the recent conflict at the Line of Actual Control and the Galwan River. While India records countless times where China has crossed this border, this increase in tensions resulted in the deaths of Indian soldiers. I appreciate Prime Minister Modi's interest in reducing tensions and agree with the recent statements from United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regarding the conflict. I applaud joint efforts by the United States and the Republic of India to combat terrorism and urge both countries to find additional areas of cooperation.

Our two nations have grown closer and increased collaboration as a result of COVID-19. This global pandemic has shown the world that it must do more to secure pharmaceutical supply chains and insulate them from harmful actors. It is my firm belief that increasing trade partnerships between the United States and the Republic of India will result in greater prosperity for our people.

Madam Speaker, I thank the Consul General for her time and for her sincere desire to build a better relationship between the United States and the Republic of India.

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