By succeeding to insert appropriate messages into the joint statement at the conclusion of the inaugural Indo-US 2+2 Dialogue on Thursday, India has managed to establish the centrality of ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Countries) in the Indo-Pacific, analysts have opined.
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"India also managed to insert appropriate wordings in the Joint Statement with underlying messages like the need to ensure 'sustainable debt financing practices in infrastructure development' (for China) and called on Pakistan to ensure that the territory under its control is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries." India also managed to bring recognition of ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific into the joint statement confirming that New Delhi soften its anti-China projections," Dr. Swaran Singh, professor, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and Senior Fellow at Charhar Institute in Beijing told Sputnik.
On the flip side, the 2+2 dialogue which coincided with the tenth anniversary of the Indo-US nuclear deal has been silent on India's engagement with Iran and on buying Russian missiles.
Responding to media persons' query on the US' stance on India going ahead with its decision to buy the Russian S-400 missile system, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis admitted that "freedom means that, at times, nations don't agree with each other."
The views and opinions expressed by Dr. Swaran Singh are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.