"Our Strategic Dialogue this week elevates India to the rank of our most important global partners, allowing us to discuss and coordinate policies of global import, including on the future shape of the international economic system and on what we can do together to promote human development in other parts of the world," Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, William Burns, said at the Council on Foreign Relations, a Washington-based think tank.
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is one of President Obama's most valued partners in the G20, and the United States strongly supported the recent expansion of India's World Bank voting share. Secretary Geithner travelled to New Delhi in April explicitly to consult on global stimulus plans, another clear indication of India's economic prominence," he said in his remarks on rise of India.
Burns said India's leadership, and the potential for US-Indian partnership, extends well beyond Asia.
"India's role in promoting global security is growing. India is today one of the largest troop contributors to UN peacekeeping operations, building on a rich tradition of Indian military contributions, including in World War II. The Indian Navy is a leading player in counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa, and it is a striking fact that the US military now holds more bilateral military exercises every year with India than any other nation," he argued.
"Expanded US-Indian defence cooperation, unimaginable not so long ago, is a valuable means of supporting our shared interest in India's broadened international security role. Our stake in India's defence modernisation is real and increasing, and defence trade has taken off since our 2005 framework agreement," he said.
"Two American companies are among the leading competitors today for a USD 10 billion sale of 126 advanced fighter aircraft to the Indian Air Force, currently the world's biggest defence tender. Timely completion of several key foundational agreements, such as a basic logistics supply accord, will open the door to greater bilateral cooperation," Burns said.
"Building on the success of the civil nuclear agreement, India is contributing constructively to global non-proliferation and nuclear security efforts. India has made clear its opposition to a nuclear-armed Iran, and voted again at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting last November to hold Iran accountable for its failure to live up to international obligations. At the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington in April of this year, President Obama praised India's leadership in launching a regional nuclear security training centre," he added.
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