Aiming to give a greater thrust to their strategic partnership, India and the US begin a series of dialogues in New Delhi from Monday. The first dialogue off the block will be the political-military dialogue which is being held after a long gap of six years.
Tuesday will see India and the US engaging in discussions as part of the East Asia dialogue. The unfolding developments in military-ruled Burma and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s recent victory in parliamentary bypolls are likely to be the focus of the talks between the two sides.
India’s “Look East” policy will be part of the dialogue when the two sides meet.
US assistant secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific affairs, Kurt M. Campbell, who will be leading the American side in this dialogue, earlier said in Washington, “Part of the US approach to the Asia-Pacific region is a deeper dialogue with India and encouraging India’s “Look East” strategy and so we will be talking about specific initiatives that we will be taking with Delhi to support that effort as part of our Asia-Pacific consultations with them.’’
The opaqueness of the long-term intentions of China, which is rapidly modernising its armed forces, and Chinese claims on the disputed south China Sea are also expected to figure in the talks between the two sides.
Even an Indian warship which was leaving Vietnam was confronted by the Chinese navy there last year. It led to the two countries engaging in a war of words with New Delhi stressing the freedom of navigation in international waters. More recently, external affairs minister S.M. Krishna asserted that the south China Sea is the “property of the world”, much to Beijing’s dislike.
Rounding off the series will be a two-day dialogue on homeland security beginning April 19. The American side will be led by Janet Lute, deputy secretary, homeland security while heading the Indian side will be Union home secretary R.K. Singh.