Aug 22, 2011

Indo US Strategic Dialogue

The other important dialogue during the month was between India’s Minister of External Affairs Shri S.M. Krishna and the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in New Delhi on July 19, 2011. This was the second annual India-U.S. Strategic Dialogue and the first one in India. Secretary Clinton also met with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance Sonia Gandhi, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon. The Dialogue covered a large number of issues to include economic partnership, clean energy, climate change, science and technology, space, nuclear energy defence, counterterrorism and homeland security.

            In the field of global strategies, consultations have now been launched in the form of Central Asia Dialogue and a West Asia Dialogue. The two sides intend to expand strategic consultations to other regions, including Latin America and Caribbean, and plan to hold the fourth round of the East Asia Dialogue in September 2011. A notable aspect  is a trilateral dialogue between India, the United States, and Japan.

            Cooperation and coordination on Afghanistan, in capacity building, agriculture, and women’s empowerment was also highlighted with a focus on, “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and inclusive reconciliation”. The leverages to be used are that of trade, transit, and commercial linkages across South and Central Asia to benefit Afghanistan and contribute to the region’s long-term peace, stability, and prosperity.

            On security cooperation the Homeland Security Dialogue in May 2011, cyber consultations, led by their two National Security Councils, a Memorandum of Understanding between Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERT-IN and US-CERT) to exchange information on cyber attacks and mutual response to cyber security incidents, to cooperate on cyber security technology, and to exchange information on cyber security policy and best practices and capacity building and exchange of experts has also been signed.

            The Defence Policy Group met in March 2011 and plans to meet again in early 2012. U.S. companies have reached a cumulative value of defence sales to India of over USD 8.0 billion in the last decade and are planning to strengthen cooperation through technology transfer, and joint research, development and production of defence items. There is progress in defence bilateral exchanges, exercises, capacity building, information sharing, including in the areas of counternarcotics, counter piracy, maritime safety and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief. Maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region in existing forums such as Defense Policy Group and its appropriate sub-groups is a key vector for cooperation.

            A strong India - U.S. civil nuclear energy cooperation through the participation of U.S. nuclear energy firms in India on the basis of mutually acceptable technical and commercial terms and conditions that enable a viable tariff regime for electricity generated is envisaged. The United States has ratified the Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC) and India intends to ratify the CSC within this year. India’s full membership of the four multilateral export control regimes – Nuclear Suppliers Group, Missile Technology Control Regime, Australia Group and the Wassennaar Arrangement – in a phased manner consistent with the core principles of these regimes is also envisaged.

            In the field of space cooperation potential areas for future cooperation in earth observation, space exploration, space sciences and satellite navigation and early finalization of three new implementing arrangements for sharing satellite data on oceans and global weather patterns was emphasised.

            The Strategic Dialogue is thus seen to provide an opportunity to take stock of the progress in bilateral relationship, bilateral cooperation, as well as to consult on global and regional issues of interest, besides charting out a short to medium-term roadmap of cooperation in priority sectors for the two Governments. There are 25 bilateral mechanisms including Strategic Security Dialogue, Defence Policy Group, High Technology Cooperation Group, and Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism have met in recent months. The dialogue was preceded by the meeting of the India-US High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG) hosted by Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on 11-12 July 2011 in New Delhi. HTCG, established in 2002, is the principal forum for advancing India-US cooperation in advanced technologies, including in dual use and strategic trade. The 3rd meeting of the India-US JWG on civil space cooperation was held on 13-14 July 2011 in Bangalore.

            US Secretary of State, Ms Hillary Clinton’s remarks in Anna Centenary Library, Chennai speaking on, “India and the United States: A Vision for the 21st Century,” gladdened many hearts in the audience and there was much well deserved applause. Clinton called on India to take a, “larger role throughout the Asia Pacific.” More significantly she also called on India, “to engage East and act East as well”.           The expectations of a larger role for India in the Asia Pacific as a force of good in the global commons is in line with India’s strategic aspirations and rising economic capabilities. To fulfill these however India will have to overcome a number of challenges. The challenge will also be to balance relations with China. India and China have established a series of interlocking partnerships such as the BRICS, RIC and strategic dialogue mechanisms which are subtler forms of balancing.

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