Noting that the US President, Mr Barack Obama, views India as one of his top foreign policy priorities, a senior White House official has said that the United States has enormous stake in New Delhi’s emergence as a global power.
“President Obama is committed to forging a long-term truly global partnership with India, recognising India’s increasing role as a 21st century power. President Obama views India as one of his top foreign policy priorities and one of the important bilateral relationships,” Mr Michael Froman, Deputy National Security Advisor on international economic affairs, said in his address to the US India Business Council (USIBC).
“We have enormous stake in India’s emergence as a global power. India is of course the world’s largest democracy and soon to be perhaps the most populous country. Its economy is growing at a rate that envies the industrialised nations and has the potential to be a significant driver of global economic growth,” he said reflecting the views of the White House on India ahead of the third India-US Strategic Dialogue.
India’s participation, he said, is important for meeting the increasing global challenges, be it the challenges facing now in the global economy, future of trade and climate, infrastructure or fighting the war against terrorism.
Commenting on the India-US economic relationship, Mr Froman said in many ways the bilateral economic relationship was the driver of the political relationship.
While there has been significant improvement in the bilateral trade and economic relationship, there is much more that can be done, he said.
“As strategic partners, it is important that we be open and frank about how best to go about that,” he said.