First Annual Dialogue on India-US Strategic Partnership

On 03 June 2010, India and USA held first annual dialogue on India-US Strategic Partnership during Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna’s visit to USA. The dialogue was co-chaired by S.M. Krishna and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

 India-US annual dialogue mainly put emphasis on expanding partnership on counterterrorism. To have access of David Coleman Headley by the Indian government was the centre point of discussion during the dialogue. Besides, the two nations decided to strengthen their cooperation in vital fields like defence, counter- terrorism, climate change, nuclear energy, education and agriculture.

• The reform within the UN Security Council and its expansion was an important agenda of the dialogue.
• In 2009, during the visit of Hilary Clinton to India the two countries announced their decision to establish a strategic dialogue.
• Headley is the Pakistan American national arrested in USA in connection with the Mumbai 26/11 terror attack.
• USA President will visit India in November2010 to further bilateral interests between the two nations set up by this strategic dialogue.

Importance of India-US Annual Dialogue

India US annual dialogue was held in the context of transformation of bilateral relationship the two nations have undergone. India adopting the policy of economic reforms and the geo political changes in post cold war era brought the two nations together.

India US strategic dialogue reflects the growing partnership between the two nations and charts a path for the two sides to work together on regional and global issues and common interest on emerging global issues like energy security, food security, terrorism and fundamentalism, ensuring balanced and equitable development within the world.

Why this kind of Dialogue was held

Since the end of Cold war era and the new economic policies initiated under economic liberalisation by the Indian government during 1990s created a shift in India’s policy towards U.S.

Recently, the same global challenges are confronting the two nations. The rising threat of terrorism and extremism, issues related to energy security, food security and ensuring balanced, equitable and sustainable development for both nations and world at large.

India and USA being democracies share the same values of pluralism and tolerance. Besides, the volume of trade both in goods and services has increased.