INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Without naming China, Mike Pompeo cautioned of Beijing's dominance of the Indian Ocean regionWashington: The US is looking at partnerships
and not dominance in the Indo-Pacific region, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said today as he unveiled a series of developmental
initiatives, which many experts believe is to counter China's 'One Belt One Road' policy in the region.Mr Pompeo, however, denied that the
Trump administration's developmental initiatives were aimed at countering China."We're convinced that American engagement in the
Indo-Pacific benefits all the nations in that region
We want it to be free, we want it to be open
We're not looking for dominance
We're looking for partnerships
Others choose to behave differently
We want these to be commercially available projects led by the American private sector in a way that benefits the entire region and the
world," Mr Pompeo told CNBC in an interview.Responding to a question on countries who have been part of China's 'One Belt One Road'
projects, Mr Pompeo said some of the countries who have engaged in that find themselves in a place that they are not happy about
"I think the others are beginning to see that as well," he said.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested, that unlike China, nations in
the Indo-Pacific will have free and transparent ties with US"The way you convince them is that you demonstrate that over the course of
history, over the even near term and medium term, that developing relationships with the United States, that having transparency, actually
turns out to be better for the leadership and for the people in each of these countries," Mr Pompeo said."I'm convinced that history
supports that theory, and I'm also convinced that the vast majority of the countries in the Indo-Pacific will agree with that," said the top
American diplomat.The Indo-Pacific region, he said, has been an important region for a while, but the Trump administration is taking this
incredibly seriously."We want private industry with the assistance of the United States government, understanding that we're going to
support this effort, we're going to have private industry go in and develop relationships
When American businesses come to these countries, they'll thrive," Mr Pompeo said."We'll have contracts that are open and transparent
We'll form real partnerships with these countries, and we will benefit America for sure, but we'll benefit each of the nations in the
Indo-Pacific by engaging in this way," he said in response to a question.Earlier in the day, Mr Pompeo launched the economic and commercial
pillars of the Trump administration's Indo-Pacific strategy
Addressing top US business leaders and foreign dignitaries at the US Chamber of Commerce, he emphasised the critical role of the US private
sector in ensuring a sustainable, financially responsible economic future for the Indo-Pacific.He launched new initiatives to accelerate US
private investment and support job-creating US export opportunities in the areas of digital economy, infrastructure, and energy
He also reaffirmed the administration's support for the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development (BUILD) Act, which would
more than double the US government's development-finance capacity, to $60 billion, to support US private investment in strategic
opportunities abroad.At the Indo-Pacific Business Forum, Mr Pompeo announced $113.5 million in new US economic initiatives to support
foundational areas of the future: digital economy, energy, and infrastructure
"This represents a strategic investment in deeper engagement with the Indo-Pacific while growing our own economy and creating jobs at home,"
the State Department said.Through the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership, the US will improve partner countries' digital
connectivity and expand opportunities for US technology exports
In addition to establishing public-private partnerships to build digital infrastructure, this initiative will deploy technical assistance to
improve partner countries' regulatory policies and cybersecurity.Further Asia EDGE or Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy will
strengthen energy security and promote energy access across the Indo-Pacific.The initiative will grow foreign energy markets and boost US
energy exports by expanding public-private partnerships, fostering business-to-business connections, and helping partner governments set
market-based energy policies
Asia EDGE will also catalyze private capital by partnering with firms and international financial institutions on pooled finance, insurance
and risk mitigation, commercial advocacy, and project development, the State Department said.Mr Pompeo announced at the Indo-Pacific
Business Forum that the Millennium Challenge Corporation will implement a $350 million compact with Mongolia to enhance sustainable water
supply to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar.He also announced strengthened support for important regional institutions in the
Indo-Pacific, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and US-ASEAN Connect, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC),
and the Lower Mekong Initiative, along with a first-ever contribution to the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
