US stands with India to deal with any threat: Pompeo

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today expressed his country's support for India in its efforts to "defend its sovereignty". After a visit to Delhi's National War Memorial_ he said_ "We paid our respect to the soldiers who laid down their lives in the Galwan Valley recently. US will stand with India in its efforts to defend its sovereignty and its liberty". Mr Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark T Esper had arrived in India on Monday for crucial talks aimed at boosting defence and security ties between the two countries. The signing of BECA with the US is a "significant" move_ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said as he briefed the press after the high-level talks held at Hyderabad House in the national capital. "We held comprehensive discussion on range of key issues: Inking of BECA with US a significant move. Our military to military cooperation with US moving forward very well. We identified projects for joint development of defence equipment. We reaffirmed our commitment to peace and security in Indo-Pacific region_" he said. BECA_ which is the fourth and final "foundational" understanding the US has with India_ will allow India to gain access to precision data and topographical images - on a real time basis - from United States military satellites. The signing of the long-negotiated defence pact comes in the backdrop of India's tense border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the situation in the Indo-Pacific was also discussed during the talks. "Our national security convergences have grown; Indo-Pacific was a focus of our discussion_" he said. US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper said that the growing defence and security partnership between India and the US will keep a check on the situation in the Indo-Pacific at a time when China is attempting to expand its economic and military clout in the region. The sensitive satellite and sensor data provided by the US under the agreement will allow India to keep a close watch on the movements of Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed his country's support for India in its efforts to "defend its sovereignty". "We stand with India to deal with threats to its sovereignty_" he said. This is the third edition of the 2+2 talks External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are holding with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark T Esper. Both sides were assisted by their top military and security officials. The in-person talks were held at a time when India is locked in a tense standoff with China in eastern Ladakh and the Trump administration's growing friction with Beijing over a host of issues including trade tariff and the Chinese military's offensive manoeuvres in the South China Sea. Ahead of the crucial meet_ US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark T Esper held talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The officials had a "constructive meeting and discussed a number of issues and challenges of strategic importance".