Video Conference--The Future of U.S. Relations With India

Read the transcript of Under Secretary Burns' remarks

U.S. relations with India have been fraught with "episodic engagement," "wariness" and "downright opposition" throughout the decades, but have now turned a corner, contended R. Nicholas Burns, U.S. under secretary for political affairs. Burns spoke to audiences in Washington and New York at a videoconference sponsored by the Wilson Center's Asia Program and the Asia Society.

According to Burns, India is a "rising global power" that is now of "front-line interest" to the United States—politically, economically and strategically. The diplomatic relationship has, at last, "arrived," enhanced by a rich network of business, academic and personal ties between the two countries. By 2025, India will be among the world's top five economies, and will soon be the world's most populous nation. Meanwhile, Burns pointed out, India's strategic importance has grown with its increased activity in regional affairs.

According to Burns, Prime Minister Singh's visit to Washington in July 2005 was an "historical turning point" in India-U.S. affairs. Though the media has paid most attention to the landmark civil nuclear energy agreement, other important initiatives were also launched. The CEO forum promises to improve commercial ties, Burns maintained, and the two countries also agreed to work toward modernizing India's infrastructure, an urgent task. Other initiatives were in the areas of HIV/AIDS, democracy promotion, science and technology, and space cooperation.

During the question-answer section of the event, Burns received many comments on the civil nuclear energy agreement. Burns emphasized that, far from legitimizing India's nuclear weapons, the agreement will help bring India into compliance with international norms while allowing it to develop clean energy. India must fulfill its commitments to open up its nuclear energy industry to inspectors and to separate civilian and military nuclear facilities.

U.S.-India relations can now be termed a "nascent strategic partnership," Burns maintained. Such a relationship is natural between the world's largest democracy and the world's oldest democracy.

Drafted by Amy McCreedy Thernstrom, Asia Program Associate
Robert M. Hathaway, Director, Asia Program, Ph: (202) 691-4020