U.S.-India joint strategic vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region

As the leaders of the world’s two largest democracies that bridge the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region and reflecting our agreement that a closer partnership between the United States and India is indispensable to promoting peace, prosperity and stability in those regions, we have agreed on a Joint Strategic Vision for the region.

India and the United States are important drivers of regional and global growth.  From Africa to East Asia, we will build on our partnership to support sustainable, inclusive development, and increased regional connectivity by collaborating with other interested partners to address poverty and support broad-based prosperity.

To support regional economic integration, we will promote accelerated infrastructure connectivity and economic development in a manner that links South, Southeast and Central Asia, including by enhancing energy transmission and encouraging free trade and greater people-to-people linkages.

Regional prosperity depends on security. We affirm the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea.

We call on all parties to avoid the threat or use of force and pursue resolution of territorial and maritime disputes through all peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

We will oppose terrorism, piracy, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction within or from the region.

We will also work together to promote the shared values that have made our countries great, recognizing that our interests in peace, prosperity and stability are well served by our common commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

We commit to strengthening the East Asia Summit on its tenth anniversary to promote regional dialogue on key political and security issues, and to work together to strengthen it.

In order to achieve this regional vision, we will develop a roadmap that leverages our respective efforts to increase ties among Asian powers, enabling both our nations to better respond to diplomatic, economic and security challenges in the region.

As part of these efforts, the United States welcomes India’s interest in joining the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, as the Indian economy is a dynamic part of the Asian economy.

Over the next five years, we will strengthen our regional dialogues, invest in making trilateral consultations with third countries in the region more robust, deepen regional integration, strengthen regional forums, explore additional multilateral opportunities for engagement, and pursue areas where we can build capacity in the region that bolster long-term peace and prosperity for all.

India-U.S. Delhi Declaration of Friendship

“Chalein saath saath; forward together we go.” Reflecting the close ties between our two great democracies, India and the United States agree to elevate our long-standing strategic partnership, with a Declaration of Friendship that strengthens and expands the relationship between our two countries

“Sanjha Prayaas, SabkaVikaas; Shared Effort, Progress For All.” Each step we take to strengthen the relationship is a step towards shaping international security, regional and global peace, prosperity and stability for years to come.

Signaling the natural affinity enjoyed by our two nations, this Declaration proclaims a higher level  of trust and coordination that will continue to draw our Governments and people together across the spectrum of human endeavor for a better world.

The India-U.S. Vision Statement endorsed in September 2014 committed our nations to a long-term partnership for prosperity and peace, through which our countries work together to make our citizens and the global community, safer and more prosperous.

The Declaration makes tangible and enduring the commitment of our two countries to harness the inherent potential of our two democracies, and upgrades the unique nature of our relationship, committing our Governments to work through areas of difference.

Through this Declaration of Friendship and in keeping with our national principles and laws, we respect:

• Equal opportunityfor all our people through democracy, effective governance, and fundamental freedoms;

• An open, just, sustainable,and inclusive rule-based global order;

• The importance of strengthened bilateral defense ties;

• The importance of adapting to and mitigating the impact of climate change through national, bilateral and multilateral efforts;

• The beneficial impact that sustainable, inclusive development will have on our two countries and the world;

• The centrality of economic policies that support the creation of strong and sustainable jobs, inclusive development, and rising incomes; and

• Transparent and rule-based markets that seek to drive the trade and investment necessary to uplift all members of society and promote economic development.

As part of this Declaration of Friendship, we commit to:

• Hold regular Summits with increased periodicity;

• Elevate the Strategic Dialogue to a Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, of which the Strategic elements would continue to be chaired by the External Affairs Minister of India and the U.S. Secretary of State and the Commercial components of the Dialogue would be led by India’s Minister of Trade and Commerce and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.  This reflects the United States’ and India’s commitment to strengthen commercial and economic ties to advance mutual prosperity, regional economic growth and stability;

• Establish secure hotlines between the Prime Minister of India and the President of the United States of America and National Security Advisors;

• Cooperate to developjoint ventures on strategically significant projects;

• Build meaningful security and effective counterterrorism cooperation;

• Holdregional and multilateral consultations;

• Consult and hold regular consultations in multilateral forums; and

• Leverage the talents and strengths of our people to enhance sustainable, inclusive development around the globe.

Source: White House