India, United States to be sensitive to mutual interests

Strategic dialogue: India indispensable to future American strategy

Minister Krishna and Secretary Clinton reiterated their shared goal of advancing security and stability across Asia, in particular, through the emergence of an open, balanced and inclusive architecture of cooperation in the region,” said a joint statement issued at the end of their strategic dialogue.

Obama, who ignored protocol to attend a reception for External Affairs Minister S M Krishna by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department, said US relations with India were at the highest of priorities for his administration and for “me personally” as President.

He announced that he will visit India in November, saying the country is a rising and responsible global power indispensable to a future American strategy. “So I look forward to advancing our partnership, to experiencing all that India and its people and its incredible ancient culture have to offer,” Obama said.

As of now his travel dates to India have been tentatively scheduled from November 7 to November 10, said a senior administration official.

At the start of the dialogue, Clinton called India a “rising global power” and that her country was “definitely committed” to considering it for a permanent membership in an expanded UN Security Council and pitched for its greater role in meeting challenges in the region like securing Afghanistan.

The joint statement pledged that as strategic partners, India and US would “continue to consult each other closely on regional and global developments and remain sensitive to each other’s interests.” The US welcomed India’s “leadership” role in helping to shape the rise of a stable, peaceful and prosperous Asia as the two sides promised to expand regular high-level exchanges on regional issues of mutual concern.