India-US strategic dialogue must lay out clear objectives, say American senators

WASHINGTON: Asserting that the US values India's role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean region, a group of top American senators today urged the Obama administration to ensure India-US Strategic Dialogue lay out clear objectives and deliverables.

The senators introduced a resolution in this regard which said Obama should develop a clear strategic plan for US's relationship with India and hold a robust strategic dialogue.

Reiterating their resolve that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should address the joint session of the Congress at the earliest, the resolution said the talks should build on the bilateral relationship and moves from dialogue to action to build a path forward for more ambitious cooperation.

Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to New Delhi along with Commerce Secretary Penny Prtizker to co-chair the Strategic Dialogue with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj on July 31.

Introduced by senators Mark Warner, John Cornyn, Tim Kaine and James Risch, the bipartisan resolution has been sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for necessary action.

The resolution observed that the US and India have a unique opportunity to refresh the the bilateral relationship in a broad range of areas, including education, skills development, energy and infrastructure, and called for nominating a US Ambassador to India soon.

US and India should continue to boost economic engagement, including finalising a bilateral investment treaty and reviving the Trade Policy Forum, the resolution said.

The Obama administration should urge the Modi government to continue with its economic reforms, including lifting the caps on foreign direct investment and taking steps to enhance protections for intellectual property, and consider discussions with other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) nations about Indian membership in the forum.

The resolution called for expansion of bilateral energy cooperation and urged India to fully implement the 2008 civil nuclear pact. The US should pursue increased export of liquefied natural gas to India, it added.

US and India should continue to deepen defence and security cooperation to include expanded joint exercises and training, sales and co-production, holding a "2+2" meeting of senior defence and foreign affairs officials, and reestablishing the Defence Policy Group, the resolution said.

It also asked the Obama administration to urge India to modify its offset regime so funds can flow to a second tier of Indian priorities such as education, skills development, or manufacturing.