Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai with U.S
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A Publication of the Embassy of India, Washington, D.C. March 1, 2013 I India RevieI w Vol. 9 Issue 3 www.indianembassy.org Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai with U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry in Washington, D.C. on February 21. (Photo: U.S. Department of State) We have evolved a ‘new normal’ in India-US partnership: Indian Foreign Secretary n General Budget n Second India- n Indian rocket puts 2013-14: Focus Afghanistan-US seven satellites in on high growth Trilateral Dialogue orbit Cover STORY Energy, education next big things in India-US ties During his three-day visit to the U.S., Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai had series of interactions on bilateral, global and regional issues with U.S. officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry ooperation in the areas of energy and education could be the next big things in CIndia-US relations, officials said after “a series of very useful and important interactions” between visit - ing Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and U.S. officials. In these discussions, the importance of the bilateral partnership in key areas, including energy, trade and economic development, as well as existing regional and international consulta - tions were reaffirmed. In the year ahead, it is intended that the two sides would increase the frequency and pace of bilateral consultations, including at official and political levels. Mathai, who was on a three-day visit to the U.S., starting February 20, also called on the new U.S. Secretary of Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai (far right) meets with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, at the State John Kerry during which he U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on February 21. Also seen, from left, are Ambassador Nirupama Rao, U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, and U.S. Ambassador to India “extended to him the good wishes of Nancy J. Powell. our leadership, and their congratula - tions upon his appointment.” for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman. cooperation on energy, climate Mathai also discussed the pro - During the Mathai-Sherman meet - change, defense, civil nuclear issues, posed visit to India by Kerry for the ing the two sides covered bilateral, education, regional dynamics, and Third Round of the Bilateral regional and global issues. joint collaboration in Afghanistan, Strategic Dialogue, possibly in mid- The two “discussed a broad range Africa and Asia,” according to a State June. Kerry in turn reaffirmed his of issues, including our bilateral Department spokesperson. invitation to the External Affairs “Both look forward to another Minister Salman Khurshid to visit India and the U.S. round of the U.S.-India Strategic the U.S. soon. Dialogue later this year,” she said. 2 Mathai also called upon Deputy reaffirmed the Earlier, Mathai set out a detailed Secretary of State William Burns, importance of bilateral blueprint of India-US bilateral rela - Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel partnership in key areas, tionship in an address on India and Poneman and Deputy Secretary of the United States in the 21 st century Defense Dr. Ashton Carter. including energy, trade at the Carnegie Endowment for He had a conversation over lunch and economic develop - International Peace. with Under Secretary of State for ment, as well as existing Mathai proposed greater India- Economic Growth, Energy and U.S. cooperation in several key areas Environment Robert Hormats as well regional and interna - ranging from terrorism, defense and as extensive and wide-ranging consul - tional consultations enhanced trade to support in multi - tations with Under Secretary of State lateral fora. March 2013 India Review Cover STORY We have evolved a ‘new normal’ in India-US 3 partnership: Foreign Secretary Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai speaking at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Mathai Washington, DC, on February 21. (Photo: AFP) Highlighting the remarkable transformation in the relations between the two countries, Foreign Secretary Mathai said India-U.S. dialogue architecture today spans from social sector measures to trade and global financial policy coordination; from energy to defense, counter-terrorism and homeland security ndia on February 21 suggested “part of the new normal,” Mathai said: unprecedented. The centerpiece was greater cooperation with the U.S. “We can do so by finding simple the India-U.S. civil nuclear arrange - in several key areas ranging, process solutions to enable your ment and all that went into it and has Idefense and enhanced trade to defense companies to make value-for- since emerged from it. support in multilateral fora as they take money bids to meet our defense.” The problem, of course, is that their strategic partnership forward. As both countries need significant everything since that definitive moment “From our perspective, closer and investment in industry and manufac - tends to be compared with the audaci - more effective cooperation between us ture and the jobs that they create, “we ty of what we dared to do together in on terrorism is critical,” said Foreign must find ways to work more closely putting this arrangement in place. This Secretary Ranjan Mathai in an address together in this context”, he said. places a somewhat-unfair strain of on ‘A 21 st Century India-United States Energy and education too were expectation. But I think it is also mis - Partnership for Peace, Prosperity and strategic openings for the US to invest placed. Because the truth of it is that Progress’ at the Carnegie Endowment in the future of India, he said. much that has happened since is equal - for International Peace in Washington, ly significant in the game of nations in DC. “Obviously, this has an impact on Excerpts from the Foreign which we have evolved a “new normal” our bilateral and trilateral consultations Secretary’s remarks: in the relationship. on Afghanistan and the region.” “I am part of the squad called upon to Let me cite a few instances of what I Noting that the “relationship sustain the remarkable transformation mean by the new normal, going between us must now stand squarely that has brought the U.S. and India beyond the regular exchanges between on its own merits, Mathai said: “As you closer together than we have ever been our Heads of State and Government, re-calibrate your presence in in the past. And I deem this an extraor - both bilaterally and at multilateral Afghanistan, we hope that the transfor - dinary privilege. events, and the Strategic Dialogue mation of our relationship can acceler - To an audience such as this, I do not which has unprecedented levels of ate, based on the unique merits of what need to dwell on history — or the his - Ministerial participation on both sides. each side brings to the table.” torical nature — of this transforma - It is now normal that we have over Suggesting that defense cooperation tion. But it is worth emphasizing that one hundred visits at the senior official between the two countries should be the nature of this change has been and higher level exchanges per year. March 2013 India Review Cover STORY It is normal that our dialogue archi - based multilateral frameworks, will military exercises. Today, our armed tecture covers the gamut of govern - shape a better world order. At the more forces conduct the maximum number mental activity— from social sector mundane level of how we see India’s of military exercises with U. S. armed measures to trade and global financial growing interests converging with US forces. policy coordination; from energy to Strategic outlook, let me outline a few Trade and economic cooperation defense, counter-terrorism and home - broad areas. continue to increase. Both services and land security. At our inter-departmen - In this context, I cannot overempha - goods trade are up, and we are hopeful tal review meeting, which we held in size the point that terrorism is and will that in the near future, our bilateral the MEA in New Delhi in the begin - remain a pre-eminent security chal - Trade Policy Forum can be held; a ning of January, we identified over 30 lenge for both our countries. meeting is overdue. dialogue mechanisms, connecting Not surprisingly, counter-terrorism It is essential that we re-engage in a almost all major departments of our is a key dimension of our partnership. more focused manner especially Government. Quite obviously, it also has a strong because of the changed policy environ - And it is now entirely normal that public resonance. ment in India. As you know, the our foreign offices consult each other Cyber-security, to which the Government has announced a range of on a wide range of global and regional President of the United States made a reform measures to make India a more challenges. Already we have held three reference, and counter-piracy are also attractive investment destination. rounds of a trilateral between the US, areas in which our two countries can These new measures offer signifi - Japan and India, and several rounds of work together, particularly since the cant openings in single and multi- bilateral consultations on East Asia. terrorist threat folds into these areas of brand retail, aviation and the financial Just two days ago, we hosted the sec - challenges. sector. Some measures have already ond round of our trilateral dialogue Even on global and extra-regional been rolled out — and companies have with Afghanistan. We hold regular issues, we are developing the habit of started opening stores. consultations on strategic security broader cooperation. Our Prime Meanwhile, however, we hear from issues, covering non-proliferation, dis - Minister and President Obama agreed our U.S. partners that there are still armament and export controls; we are in 2010 that we would begin to work elements on which clarity is awaited, at working together closely on India’s together in trilateral mode, in capacity- least in terms of new policies in force.