Nikki Haley, Akbaruddin discuss US-India cooperation

Haley visited India’s UN Mission in New York to discuss economy, peacekeeping and the US-India partnership at the UN.

The US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley visited the Permanent Mission of India to the UN on Thursday to discuss issues on US-India relations with India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin.

“We had a great meeting w/ Indian Amb. Akbaruddin. We discussed India’s economy, peacekeeping reform & the partnership b/w India & the US,” Haley tweeted.

Haley, who is the first Indian American to hold a cabinet rank in the US government, discussed a wide range of issues related to the US and India.

“We shared perspectives on how India-US can work together at the UN in line with our growing ties,” Ambassador Akbaruddin told IANS. The two dignitaries discussed “India’s economic and anti-corruption reforms that have helped businesses and spurred growth” and “close ties between the two countries and opportunities to further the partnership between the US and India at the UN.”

India has been pushing for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Former President Barack Obama backed India’s claim for the seat, but the incumbent Donald Trump has been silent on the issue. It has not been confirmed whether India’s quest for the permanent seat, too, was discussed between Haley and Akbaruddin.

Haley is a powerful member of the Trump administration. During a working lunch between Trump and UN Security Council Ambassadors at the White House on Monday, Trump acknowledged Haley’s work at the UN. “I want to thank Ambassador Nikki Haley for her outstanding leadership, and for acting as my personal envoy on the Security Council,” Trump said. “She’s doing a fantastic job.” He said that the United Nations and the UN Security Council are on an important mission to ensure international peace and security.

Both United Kingdom (UK) and France supported India’s bid for a permanent seat in the reformed UNSC during a General Assembly session on November 7, 2016. “More than 50 speakers shared their suggestions, perspectives and concerns. Many favoured bolstering representation for such emerging Powers as Brazil, Germany, India and Japan,” a UN General Assembly statement mentioned.

During the meeting, Akbaruddin said, “Global governance structures had to be updated and adjusted to be able to deal with new security challenges.”

India, which is one of the founding members of the United Nations, has sent maximum number of troops to UN missions since its inception in 1950s. “So far India has taken part in 49 Peacekeeping missions with a total contribution exceeding 180,000 troops and a significant number of police personnel having been deployed,” according to a statement on the India’s UN Mission website.

Social Media Update

We had a great meeting w/ Indian Amb. Akbaruddin. We discussed India's economy, peacekeeping reform & the partnership b/w India & the US. pic.twitter.com/KdfGkWFVul

— Archive: Ambassador Nikki Haley (@AmbNikkiHaley) April 26, 2017