NEW DELHI: In an apparent reference to Pakistan, a member of United States President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team on Monday said the incoming President was not going to tolerate a dual role from India’s neighbour.
Trump’s transition team official, Shalabh Kumar said both Washington and New Delhi will share good defence cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
“You need to have a good defence cooperation among friends, which is happening already, but this is going to accelerate dramatically in fight against terrorism. President-elect has made a policy very very clear, he is not going to tolerate the dual role from India’s neighbours,” said Kumar in New Delhi.
President-elect Donald Trump stunned the world on November 8 by defeating heavily favoured Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House, ending eight years of Democratic rule and sending the United States on a new, uncertain path.
Trump had pledged that the United States and India would be “best friends” if he is elected and that he would boost intelligence sharing with India in the battle against militants.
Kumar also said the prime objective during the first year of Trump’s presidency was to increase trade between the two countries.
“The goal of the first term of Trump Presidency is to increase that (trade) $100 billion a year to $300 billion a year and in that process is a win-win for all sides,” added Kumar.
Trump, who at 70 will be the oldest first-term US president, came out on top after a bitter and divisive campaign that focused largely on the character of the candidates and whether they could be trusted to serve as the country’s 45th president.
India-US ties have flourished under President Barack Obama and Modi, who came to power in 2014, with the two countries striking key defence agreements this year.
The two countries cooperate on a wide range of issues, including counterterrorism, regional security and defence. India is also a major market for US weapons.
