[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 182 (Friday, October 23, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             UNITED STATES AND REPUBLIC OF INDIA RELATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARRY LOUDERMILK

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 23, 2020

  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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