The newly established House Committee on Foreign Relations focused on expanding bilateral relations between the US and India, particularly in the defense, economic sector, and counterterrorism efforts, and strengthening India’s presence in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
The committee, chaired by Republican Congressman Michael McCaul, adopted a resolution Wednesday that defines its priority and area of oversight during the 118th Congress.
Democrat Gregory Meeks is the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.“The committee will review US policy towards India and continued expansion of bilateral cooperation. Special attention will be paid to the US-India defense relationship, including security and technology cooperation, opportunities for expanding roles, missions and capabilities, and counterterrorism efforts,” said a document adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on February 8.
The committee will also focus on efforts to strengthen economic relations between the US and India, including discussions on bilateral efforts in the technology, telecommunications and pharmaceutical industries, he said.
It will also focus on efforts to strengthen India’s participation in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue efforts and its presence in the Indo-Pacific region. The committee also said it will review the implications of India’s rapidly growing energy requirements.
The Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region comprising the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea. The US, India and several other world powers are talking about the need to ensure a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific against the backdrop of China’s growing military maneuvering in the resource-rich region.
As it will comprehensively examine U.S. policy toward China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the committee said it will include attention to the CCP’s global malign influence, the Belt and Road Initiative, and global intelligence activities, including intellectual property theft. .
Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the multibillion-dollar BRI in 2013 to carry out major infrastructure projects around the world that would in turn boost Beijing’s global influence. It aims to connect Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Persian Gulf region, Africa and Europe through a network of land and sea routes.
The $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which links the Gwadar port in Balochistan to Xinjiang province, is a flagship project of Xi’s ambitious BRI. “The committee will review the number of international agreements and treaties that the People’s Republic of China has signed and its violations of such treaties or the inconsistent behavior of the Chinese government with respect to the obligations in said treaties,” he said.
The Republican-majority committee said it would consider the impact of Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine and the U.S. response in light of the U.S.’s long-standing refusal to recognize changes in international borders influenced by force alone. “This will include active oversight of the full range of US assistance to Ukraine, working with Ukraine to strengthen anti-corruption institutions and good governance, and working with allies and partners to promote burden-sharing,” the report said.
Afghanistan is at the top of the committee’s priority review issues
“The committee will comprehensively review policy, decision-making, planning, and execution related to the withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Particular attention will be given to the State Department’s withdrawal decision, planning, and coordination with other departments, countries, and organizations leading the withdrawal, chaotic and lethal evacuation, response and the actions of the US government during the unprecedented evacuation and withdrawal aftermath,” it said.
