US-India Strategic Dialogue, February 2014
The Aspen Strategy Group and the newly inaugurated Ananta Aspen Centre (formerly Aspen Institute India) convened the 19th session of the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue in Washington D.C. from February 7 – 9, 2014, ahead of India’s parliamentary elections starting in April. The session began with an opening dinner, hosted by the newly appointed Ambassador of India to the United States S Jaishankar, which featured remarks by National Security Advisor to President Obama Susan Rice on the importance of the U.S.-India bilateral relationship. Following two days of closed-door roundtable discussions on a set of key issues that concern the relationship, the Indian delegation met with several senior U.S. officials, including Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal, National Security Advisor to Vice President Biden Jake Sullivan, and United States Trade Representative Michael Froman. The conversations with U.S. government officials, as well as the roundtable discussions, focused on mutual concerns about the economic and trade aspects of the bilateral relationship and the geopolitical challenges that both the U.S. and India face in the world. The Dialogue plans to convene again for its 20th session in late 2014.