Trump and Modi on Indo-US “strategic alliance”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in the Philippines on 13 November 2017 “beyond bilateral ties and working jointly for the future of Asia”.The meeting followed the day after officials of India, the US, Japan and Australia held talks to give shape to the much talked about ‘quadrilateral alliance’to keep the strategically important Indo-Pacific region free, open and inclusive. “The cooperation between India and US can rise beyond bilateral cooperation and both countries can work for the future of Asia and the world...We are moving ahead together on many issues,” the Indian Prime Minister said.The use of the term ‘Indo-Pacific’ by President Trump has led to speculation that it may have something to do with Washington preparing the ground for a revival of the so called Quadrilateral Strategic Alliance between US, Japan, Australia and India to counter China’s expansion.