Building International Partnerships and Mutual Understanding

In 2002, both in India and the US, a need was felt for a strong Track II dialogue between the two countries to take the fledgling bilateral relationship to a new level. CII and the Aspen Strategy Group of the Aspen Institute, USA were identified as the appropriate organisations to take this initiative forward, which was intended to bring the world’s oldest and largest democracies closer.

The bi-annual dialogue has strengthened over the years, with the discussions and agenda changing with the evolution of the formal bilateral relationship, the evolving geo¬political realities, and new strategic concerns.

The India-US Strategic Dialogue is considered to be the most successful Track II dialogue between the two countries which has sustained over time. The success of the dialogue has resulted in bilateral Track II conversations with Israel, Singapore and China and a Trilateral Dialogue between India-USA-Japan. The Trilateral Commission has now been added to the portfolio.

The dialogues have varied in frequency, intensity and content according to the regional and geopolitical context and the bilateral/trilateral relationship under discussion.

Participants at these dialogues include high level individuals from both sides drawn from all walks of life: politics, economics, defence, NGOs, former diplomats, industry, media, think tanks, science & technology, the academics etc. The dialogues have provided an excellent forum for participants to discuss bilateral and trilateral relations in their entirety, thus helping to understand each other’ positions and views better. At the same time, agendas for cooperation have been refined and new avenues for partnership identified.

The dialogues facilitate closer relationships through the following mechanisms: high level interactions, the continuity of discussions, analytical briefings delivered by co-chairs, targeted press coverage (such as through op¬eds or articles written by delegates), firsthand accounts of each country’s concerns and explication of room for cooperation and partnership, and also high level political meetings to set the ground for an impact on bilateral and trilateral policy. In short, it has promoted the spirit of friendship between countries and allows them to “agree to disagree”.

The success of the US-India Strategic Dialogue led to signing of an MoU between CII and Aspen Institute, USA to form Aspen Institute India in 2004.

These dialogues are CII programmes which are supported by Aspen Institute India.

The following Dialogues have been conducted so far:

• India-US Strategic Dialogue
  The very first India-US Strategic Dialogue happened in 2002, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in the US and the invasion of Afghanistan. However, the dialogues were not dominated by security or defence concerns, perhaps reflecting the low relevance of these issues in the bilateral relationship at the time. Since then, in subsequent dialogues, the defence relationship between the two countries has become a constant theme, and has initiated much discussion. Issues discussed include homeland security, intelligence, defence production, R&D and so forth.
  
  In terms of the South Asian regional context, the discussions have shifted from an emphasis on the Indo-Pakistan relationship, to the worsening security situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Security concerns in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have also prompted debates on what India and USA can do together and in partnership to stabilise these countries. The rise of China and the burgeoning power of Russia have come under the scanner of the dialogues. In recent years, with the growing hostility between USA and Iran over the latter’s nuclear programme, discussions have also focussed on the divergent views of India and the US on this issue, within the larger context of proliferation, India’s strategic interests and US concerns about security in the Middle East.
  
  

  
  The Indian delegation of the US-India Strategic Dialogue with Secretary of State,
  Condoleeza Rice in Washington DC, Dec 2008

  
  While energy security has been an issue of concern for both countries since the dialogues were initiated in 2002, it assumed greater significance following the initiation of discussions at the bilateral level on a potential Indo-US civilian nuclear deal in 2005. The status of the negotiations, next steps, obstacles, and regional issues thus came into sharper focus till the treaty was ratified in 2008 in India. The focus has now moved towards climate change resulting in a separate dialogue focused entirely on the subject.
  
  The trans-national challenge of HIV/AIDS has also received much attention in the course of the dialogues, especially since India has the second highest number of HIV/AIDS patients in the world. Other global challenges such as poverty, income inequality, public health, education, climate change/ environmental degradation have also featured in the discussions, while recently there has also been emphasis on cyber¬security and counter-terrorism.
  
  While economic and trade relations have been a major facet of the dialogues, the breakdown of the Doha trade talks, and the global economic crisis have become dominant aspects in the strategic dialogues in recent years.
  
  
• India-Japan-US Trilateral Dialogue
  The India¬-Japan-USA Trilateral Dialogue was initiated in 2006 in the backdrop of the growing importance of India in East Asia and the enormous potential for expanding cooperation on global challenges based on shared values and interests.
  
  

  
  Members of the India-Japan-USA Trilateral dialogue with Taro Aso, Prime Minister of Japan, in Tokyo, March 2009

  
  The seven convenings of the dialogue have focussed discussion on the following areas:
  
  Domestic political developments: the elections and change in administration in Japan, followed by the elections in USA and the elections in India have provided ample space for discussions on the changing contours of domestic political compulsions, and re-orientation of foreign and domestic policy in each country.
  
  Economic developments: Trade and economic relations among the three countries have been an integral part of the agenda, although since 2008, the emphasis has shifted to joint cooperation in tackling the global economic crisis. The breakdown of the Doha trade talks, the international financial system, and the dangers of protectionism are some of the issues that have emerged on the agenda.
  
  International and regional security challenges: India, Japan and USA’s views and positions with regard to China, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, North Korea, and Russia, unfolding events in South, South West and South East Asia have also come under discussion. The attempt has been to chart out and discuss each country’s specific security concerns and objectives, while defining the space for trilateral and bilateral cooperation and partnership in meeting these goals.
  
  

  
  L-R: Yoshiyuki Kasai, Chairman and Representative Director, Central Japan Railway, Tarun Das, Former Chief Mentor, CII; and Richard Armitage, former US Deputy Secretary of State at the US – Japan - Trilateral in September, 2010

  
  International and regional security challenges: India, Japan and USA’s views and positions with regard to China, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, North Korea, and Russia, unfolding events in South, South West and South East Asia have also come under discussion. The attempt has been to chart out and discuss each country’s specific security concerns and objectives, while defining the space for trilateral and bilateral cooperation and partnership in meeting these goals.
  
  Regional architecture: the regional security and strategic architecture has been a further running theme in the dialogues. Regional cooperation in Asia, especially through the APEC, ASEAN and ASEAN G8; the regional and global financial structure; and broad security issues have all been discussed in depth by the three countries.
  
  Climate change/energy: The issue of climate change, is seen as integrally linked to the quest for energy security and vice versa in the Trilateral Dialogues. This issue has assumed particular significance for India and Japan, since it is a regional concern, but also offers room for bilateral economic cooperation. The status of the Indo-American civilian nuclear deal was thus discussed at great length, since it was an issue of much concern to Japan in the context of non-proliferation and the specific exemption being made for India. At the same time, environmental threats and India’s internal regulatory responses, cooperation in nuclear and other green technologies have also been a subject of conversation.
  
  Significantly, the past three dialogues have resulted in the publication of joint statements which have been presented to the governments of all three countries.
  
  
• India-Singapore Strategic Dialogue
  The India- Singapore Strategic Dialogue was started in May 2008 to focus on all aspects of the bilateral relationship.
  
  

  
  Members of the second India-Singapore dialogue in New Delhi, Feb 2009

  
  Since the dialogues were initiated at a time of increasing religious fundamentalism, militancy and rising instances of terrorist violence in South Asia and South East Asia, security and strategic concerns have been discussed at length along with the strengthening of the defence partnership.
  
  The rise of China and its bilateral relationship with India and Singapore has also come under the scanner within the context of the overall South East Asian neighbourhood. Singapore has often sought to be cast in the role of an honest interlocutor between India and China, given the fundamental lack of understanding between the latter, and Singapore’s close relationship with both. Relations with Iran, Russia, USA, Japan, and the European Union have also dominated discussions, especially in terms of geopolitics and strategic ties.
  
  Economic issues have been central to the dialogues, and more so because of the global financial crisis, which has particularly impacted Singapore. Areas of mutual economic cooperation, trade linkages, investment, R&D partnerships etc. thus have been highlighted.
  
  
• India-Israel Forum
  
  Members of the Second India-Israel Forum with President Shimon Peres,
  President of Israel in Jerusalem, September 2009

  
  The India-Israel Forum has so far held three meetings to give a Track II thrust to the bilateral relationship which has greatly evolved in the past 15 years. The dialogues were jointly organized with the Tel Aviv University. The focus ogf the deliberations are research and development, with particular emphasis on health care/ life sciences and clean tech (which encompasses renewal energy and water).
  
  
• India-China Strategic Dialogue
  
  Members of the first India-China Strategic Dialogue in Beijing, March 2010

  
  The India-China Strategic Dialogue – the first of its kinds – was initiated in March 2010 to discuss the various issues affecting the current state of affairs between the two countries including shared economic opportunities as well as security threats and issues.
  
  The second meeting held in October, 2010 observed that economic cooperation is a key part of India-China relations. However, certain irritants that stymie the diplomatic and political ties need to be ironed out. Military to military exchanges will go a long way as confidence building measures. It was suggested that both countries should engage in maritime security cooperation and joint military exercises.Frank discussions on substantive issues, supported with strong bilateral diplomatic, political, economic and military exchanges will indeed place India-China relations on a higher plane.
  
  
• Trilateral Commission
  The Trilateral Commission draws influential members from diverse countries around the world, including business leaders, members of Parliaments, academics, and media leaders amongst others. It is thus one of the foremost international strategic dialogues currently underway. The Commission was launched in 1973 to highlight and nurture the shared leadership responsibilities of three democratic industrialized areas of the world – Europe (EU countries), North America (US, Canada and Mexico) and Pacific Asia (with Japan as founding member country). They have recently added India and China to the dialogue. Aspen Institute India has been nominated as the Secretariat for India for the Trilateral Commission and led a team to Dublin in May, 2010 for the Commission’s Annual Meeting.
  
  
• Track II Dialogue on Climate Change and Energy
  Earlier this year, it was felt that a strong strategic India-United States partnership on climate change, building on existing ties and rapidly evolving climate positions, would present a unique opportunity to deliver diplomatic, environmental and economic gains on both sides, such as job creation and energy security.
  
  An enhanced bilateral relationship can foster progress on an urgent issue and catalyze the multilateral negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in the aftermath of the Copenhagen Summit. Rapid evolution in the climate positions of India and the United States in recent months presents the possibility of even greater progress between these two essential countries, as illustrated by parallel statements by Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and U.S. President Barack Obama, as well as leadership in both countries.
  
  However, impediments in the form of political differences on both sides have obstructed the strong case for cooperation on climate change issues and therefore heighten the case for non-governmental collaboration, in a manner that complements and informs formal diplomatic relations. Experience with the U.S. – India nuclear agreement suggested that a complementary process to the official bilateral negotiations, or “Track II”, led by civil society actors, can help governments delineate options for collaboration, foster communication and trust, and discuss implementation issues.
  
  
• The Growth of the Strategic Dialogues
  
  Figures in brackets indicate number of meeting held in the year.