America
India-US partnership in a new 'strategic plus' phase: Richard Verma
By
By Arun KumarWashington, March 28
Asserting that India-US
strategic partnership has moved into a new "strategic plus" phase, US
Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, says the two countries are focused
on finding creative, realistic ways to move forward.
"I believe
we are witnessing a transformative time in US-India relations," he told a
Washington think tank on Friday outlining how President Barack Obama's
recent visit to India had propelled US-India relations to a new level of
strategic convergence.
Reciprocating Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's earlier visit to Washington, the two leaders inaugurated
a deep agenda of bilateral cooperation resulting in no fewer than 30
dialogues, declarations, and agreements, he noted.
"As India's
strategic plus partner, we support India's aspiration to become a
leading power," said Verma in a talk on "Strategic Plus: Taking
US-Indian Relations to a New Level" at the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace.
"We also welcome India's constructive
leadership on global challenges," said Verma, who is on his first visit
to Washington since becoming US ambassador to India.
Discussing
what must be done to sustain the momentum that is transforming and
deepening the two countries' ties, he said: "It is fair to say that
we've got a big agenda and big goals for this partnership."
"We're focused on finding creative, realistic ways to move them all forward," Verma said.
"Our
leaders recognise that a robust US-India partnership can be a force for
greater peace, prosperity, and security in the world," he said.
"But
we won't always agree," said Verma citing India's support this week for
the attempt to strip benefits from UN staff in same-sex relationships
as an example.
In Delhi, "there is still a broader strategic and
economic debate going on about whether India should focus globally or
whether it should focus inward and limit its foreign policy to the
region", Verma said.
"So as we move forward, we will also need to
manage our expectations. We have to be cognizant of the speed and
scope of our initiatives; we have to prioritise.
"When we
disagree, we will do so with respect and in a spirit of partnership and
an appreciation for the immense value and promise for our relationship.
"If
we continue to move forward on such terms, there will be few limits to
how far we can advance, and how much we can achieve, in the years and
decades to come," Verma said.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at [email protected])