Indo-US ties to grow on 'very promising trajectory': Robert Blake

The US has said its relationship with India is expected to grow on a very promising trajectory both in the near future and over the long term, with the focus on counter-terrorism cooperation, climate change, civil nuclear energy and rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan.

"Broadly speaking, relations between the United States and India have never been better, and are likely to continue on their very promising trajectory - both in the near future and over the long-term," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, said.

"That's why President Obama has called India an 'indispensable partner' and said that 'our relations with India will be one of the defining partnerships for the United States in the 21st century'," he told the IIT-Kanpur Golden Jubilee Alumni Convention here recently.

Blake noted that Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wanted to elevate the US relationship with India by establishing a Strategic Dialogue which convened for the first time last month in Washington.

"We began the Dialogue to give senior-level strategic direction to the many working groups and dialogues already in progress, conceive new initiatives to confront the new challenges of the 21st century like climate change and capitalise on new opportunities for cooperation in areas like food security and clean energy," he said.

Referring to the growing Indo-US relationship, Blake recalled that in the area of strategic cooperation, the US reached an agreement with India on nuclear reprocessing six months ahead of schedule.

"We are heartened that the Indian Government is committed to passing Nuclear Liability Legislation that is the last step needed for our companies to begin civil nuclear investments in India," the Obama Administration's top diplomat for South Asia said.

"Our counter-terrorism cooperation has expanded dramatically to include rail security, urban policing, information exchange and much more to bring terrorists to justice and help prevent terrorist attacks," he said.

Clinton has welcomed India's contributions to Afghan reconstruction, capacity building and development efforts and its offer to enhance these efforts.

"We are now exploring how the US and India can work more closely together in Afghanistan," Blake said.

Noting that military-to-military relations are burgeoning, Blake said the Indian military holds more bilateral exercises with the United States than any other nation.

"As Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Michele Flournoy recently noted, we are 'creating conditions where close US-India defence cooperation is normal, expected and routine'," he said.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao has rightly said that US-India defence relationship has evolved from a purely military relationship to a "state of comprehensive engagement," Blake noted.

"In the Energy and Climate Change pillar, we have launched a US-India climate dialogue to capitalise on the improved coordination between the US and India in international climate negotiations," he said.

"The US appreciates the important role Prime Minister (Manmohan) Singh played in helping to forge a consensus in Copenhagen (climate talks) last year.

"We support continuing the progress made in Copenhagen on the key issues that are necessary for any global climate regime-mitigation, transparency, financing, adaptation, technology and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries," Blake said.

It is important for the global community to continue to make progress and find common ground on these essential issues in the lead up to the climate change talks later this year in Cancun, he said.