We welcome our inclusion as dialogue partner in IOR-ARC: US

WASHINGTON: Welcoming its inclusion as a dialogue partner in the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation, the US has said that these kinds of regional and multilateral institutions play a vital role in addressing the shared challenges.

"We welcome the news that we have been included as a dialogue partner in the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters, responding to a question on induction of the US as a dialogue partner in the 20-nation IOR-ARC.

India played a major diplomatic role in the inclusion of the US in the multilateral forum.

"These kinds of regional and multilateral institutions play a vital role in addressing the shared challenges that we have and building a more prosperous and peaceful region," Nuland said.

"As you know, that part of the world is extremely strategically important. We are glad to see the states around the Indian Ocean working together. And we welcome the opportunity to be part of that conversation in a dialogue capacity," she said.

The US has been inducted as a dialogue partner of IOR-ARC despite opposition from Iran, mainly because of the hectic diplomatic effort by New Delhi.

"I think it speaks to the fact that other states in the region very much welcome having us as a dialogue partner," Nuland said when asked about the Iranian opposition to it.