US Official Paul Kapur: India Anchors South Asia & Western Indo-Pacific

• US Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur described India as the anchor of South Asia and the western Indo-Pacific.
• Trump administration's 'America first' approach focuses on trade, defense cooperation, and targeted investment in the region.
• Kapur emphasized South Asia's criticality for global stability, citing India's population and subcontinental scale.
• India's size, geography, and commitment to an open regional order are central to US strategy.
• Highlighted bilateral progress including the US-India Defence Framework Agreement, TRUST initiative, and India's purchases of US drones and LNG.