Aspen Strategy Group

About the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue

In 2001 the Aspen Strategy Group conceived of a major Track II effort to take what was then a fledgling strategic relationship between the world's oldest and largest democracies to the next level. With an inaugural trip to India in January 2002, the "U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue" was born. The Dialogue has been instrumental in changing policy and perceptions.

When President Bush traveled to India in March 2006, people around the world turned their attention to the Dialogue and its focus for the past five years: U.S. diplomatic, military and economic relations with the rising giant. With relations between the two nations — and the economic and geopolitical stakes — at an all-time high, the work of the Dialogue is becoming more significant with each of its sessions.

The work of the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue culminates in biannual, reciprocal government visits and joint roundtables in Washington and New Delhi. For each session, 15 to 20 delegation members from each country take part. Delegation members have past senior-level policy making experience and hold high ranking positions in NGOs, academia, industry, and the media. Members of Congress and Indian Members of Parliament are also invited to join the delegations.

Each year the "U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue" has one meeting in the United States and one in India. These sessions contain two components: briefings for the visiting delegation in the capital city with top government officials, and a roundtable meeting held that both the Indian and American delegations attend. The roundtable meetings are a chance for the delegation to cover a broad but carefully selected set of issues critical to the relationship. Expert presenters provide short briefings to the attendees, and moderators encourage fast-paced and interactive discussion in the Aspen Institute manner. The briefings with administration officials and Congressional members allow for the visiting delegations to engage in frank dialogue in an intimate, off-the record setting. American delegations have met with the Prime Minister of India and most of his cabinet ministers. In the United States, the Indian delegations have been received by Secretary of Defense Bob Gates, Deputy National Security Advisor Ambassador James F. Jeffrey, USTR Ambassador Susan Schwab, and Senator Richard Lugar among many others.

The Dialogue achieves its mission of helping the two countries act as partners in the face of strategic international challenges through several specific features: the high level of access and participation; the ongoing nature of the program; the co-chairs' briefings to members of the administration; limited, yet targeted, press coverage (e.g., op-eds authored by delegation members); and first-hand learnings about India and the United States which delegation members take back to their home countries and apply in their daily work.

The Aspen Strategy Group convenes the "U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue" in conjunction with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). CII, which is based in New Delhi, offers expertise in strategic policy issues and has a track record of partnership with India’s policy makers as well as its membership of successful large and medium Indian companies.

"The United States' opening to India represents one of the most consequential bilateral engagements in recent history with true global significance, and the 'U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue' has helped create a series of vital conversations between key figures on both sides to help serve as a catalyst for forward momentum in the relationship."
-Kurt Campbell, Former Aspen Strategy Group Director