| On June 4, Foreign Policy at Brookings and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry hosted a conference to explore the content and purpose of this partnership as seen from Washington and New Delhi. This event focused on two dimensions: the overlap and intersection of American and Indian policies in Asia and the impact of growing economic ties. Panelists discussed the future direction of the U.S.-India relationship and U.S. and Indian strategic interests in Asia. The event was part of a new South Asia initiative at Brookings that focuses on the interconnected issues facing this vital region today. |
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Energy Dialogues
India – U.S. Energy Dialogue which focuses on Increasing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean energy technologies was pledged and the Global Climate Change Dialogue which tries to launch a process of bilateral scientific and technological collaboration to support the development, deployment and transfer of transformative and innovative technologies in areas of mutual interest including solar and other renewable energy, clean coal and energy efficiency, and other relevant areas.
India-US Cooperation in Education sector
India-US Education Dialogue was announced by India and US Governments on July 20, 2009 during the visit of US Secretary of State to India. Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD), Shri Kapil Sibal, led a delegation to New York and Washington during 25-31, October 2009 with a view to explore partnerships with top US Universities for establishing fourteen new Innovation Universities in India.
‘Amartya Sen Fellowship Fund’ was instituted in December, 2008 at Harvard University for fellowships for deserving students from India. Indian study centers have been established at University of Pennsylvania, South Asian Initiative in Harvard, India Initiative in Yale. Government of India has taken many initiatives such as “Promotion of Indian Higher Education Abroad (PIHEAD)” program and awarding fellowships, including through the corporate sector; teaching of Ayurveda in US medical schools; and Indo-US Cooperation on E-Learning. In academic year 2008-09, there were 103,260 students from India studying in the United States, constituting 15.4 % of total foreign students in the USA.
During the visit of Prime Minister to Washington, both Governments launched the “Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative” with funding from both sides to increase university linkages and junior faculty development exchanges between US and Indian universities. On July 4, 2008, India and the US signed a new bilateral Fulbright Agreement, that supersedes the Fulbright Agreement operating since 1950 with U.S. funding. Under the Agreement, the Government of India and the United States will implement the scholarship programme as full partners with scholarship amount of US$5 million awarded annually. For 2009-10, there were total of 89 American Fulbright-Nehru students and scholars who went to India to teach or pursue research. A total of 72 Indian Fulbright-Nehru students and scholars came to the US to teach or pursue research.
‘Amartya Sen Fellowship Fund’ was instituted in December, 2008 at Harvard University for fellowships for deserving students from India. Indian study centers have been established at University of Pennsylvania, South Asian Initiative in Harvard, India Initiative in Yale. Government of India has taken many initiatives such as “Promotion of Indian Higher Education Abroad (PIHEAD)” program and awarding fellowships, including through the corporate sector; teaching of Ayurveda in US medical schools; and Indo-US Cooperation on E-Learning. In academic year 2008-09, there were 103,260 students from India studying in the United States, constituting 15.4 % of total foreign students in the USA.
During the visit of Prime Minister to Washington, both Governments launched the “Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative” with funding from both sides to increase university linkages and junior faculty development exchanges between US and Indian universities. On July 4, 2008, India and the US signed a new bilateral Fulbright Agreement, that supersedes the Fulbright Agreement operating since 1950 with U.S. funding. Under the Agreement, the Government of India and the United States will implement the scholarship programme as full partners with scholarship amount of US$5 million awarded annually. For 2009-10, there were total of 89 American Fulbright-Nehru students and scholars who went to India to teach or pursue research. A total of 72 Indian Fulbright-Nehru students and scholars came to the US to teach or pursue research.
Co-Operation in Counter Terrorism
Duri ng the visit of PM in November 2009, the India-US Counter-terrorism Cooperation Initiative was initialed between the two countries, which would expand collaboration on counter-terrorism, information sharing and capacity building. Prime Minister and President Obama expressed their grave concern about the threat posed by terrorism and violent extremists emanating from India’s neighborhood, and agreed that resolute and credible steps must be taken to eliminate safe havens and sanctuaries that provide shelter to terrorists and their activities. JWG on Counter Terrorism was established in January 2000 and in the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks in November 2008, both sides have reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism. The 11th meeting of the JWG was held in Washington on 17 June 2009.
Ties under Obama administration
Despite much gains in Indo-American relations during the tenure of the Bush administration, India was not one of the Asian countries U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited in February 2009. The Foreign Policy magazine reported that even though Foreign Policy Staff of the previous administration had recommended India as a "key stop" during any such official tour of Asia, Hillary Clinton had struck New Delhi from her itinerary.
The exclusion of India from the Asian tour was regarded as a "mistake" by some analysts. India was not even mentioned once in the Obama administration's official foreign policy agenda. Former US ambassadorRobert D. Blackwill warned that Indo-US relations faced a "downgrade" in the short term, as the Obama administration places China "on a substantially higher plane in US diplomacy than India". However, he remained optimistic about the long-term prospects for Indo-US relationship. The Forbes magazine alerted U.S. President Barack Obama on the need to prevent United States' new-found alliance with India from erosion.
The initial approach of the Obama administration towards ties with India raised concerns of a downturn in Indo-American relations. In an editorial, the National Interest suggested that the Obama administration could possibly damage "the foundations underlying the geostrategic partnership" between India and the United States. Another editorial published by the Taipei Times highlighted the importance of India-U.S. relations and urged Barack Obama to give "India the attention it deserves". Terming India to be United States' "indispensable ally", the Christian Science Monitor argued that the Obama administration needs India's cooperation on several issues, including climate change, Afghanistan war and energy security and therefore, Obama cannot risk putting ties with India on "back-burner".
In an attempt to bolster relations between the two countries, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited India in the second half of July 2009. Calling India a "key partner" of the United States, Clinton said that the United States wants India "to succeed as an anchor for regional and global security". She also mentioned four platforms for building future U.S.-India relationship — "global security, human development, economic activity, science and technology".
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