An upswing in Indo-US diplomatic relations after June dialogue'

Kasargod, September 4: There has been an evident upswing in the Indo-US diplomatic relations after the strategic dialogue in June between the two major democracies of the world, T.P. Sreenivasan, former Ambassador to the United Nations and Vice-Chairman of the Kerala State Higher Education Council, has said.

He was delivering the first lecture as part of a diplomatic lecture series on 'Indo-U.S. Strategic Partnership' organised by the Department of International Relations of the Central University of Kerala (CUK) here.

“Since there has been conflicting interests and objectives between India and the United States, it is quite natural that there would be difference in perspectives and policies pursued by both the nations,” he remarked.

“There had been occasions of convergence of ideas and aspirations even in the difficult times of the Cold War. With the end of the Cold War, there was greater scope for cooperation as was seen in the nuclear deal, signed by the two countries in 2008,” he said.

However, after President Barak Obama visited New Delhi in 2010, new issues cropped up as a result of the Nuclear Liability Bill and owing to India's firm stand not to procure fighter aircraft from the U.S., he said pointing out that serious differences on the vexed issue of India fostering ties with Iran also cast aspersion on the emerging Indo-U.S. ties.

Notwithstanding the conflicting areas, the situation changed once again with the U.S. announcing rebalancing of its forces in Asia-Pacific region, he pointed out.

In the light of China's supremacy as an emerging global power and its assertion and claims on the South China Sea, the U.S. had decided to seek India's support by calling it a 'lynch-pin' of its policy in Asia, he remarked.

In the light of the emerging situation, the U.S. seemed to have been soft towards India by declaring a host of concessions at the strategic dialogue held in June. The U.S. ties appeared to envisage a truly strategic partnership with New Delhi much beyond South Asia.

America now considered India as an emerging power in Asia and ceased viewing India as a South Asian power, he said, adding that the emerging scenario could create an opportunity for India to play a crucial role in building an inclusive security structure in the interest of all the countries in the region.

Jancy James, Vice-Chancellor of the university, inaugurated the lecture series. The CUK appointed the former diplomat as a visiting professor at the Department of International Relations.