Warner, Cornyn, Kaine, And Risch Introduce Senate Resolution Highlighting Importance Of U.S.-India Strategic Partnership
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Jim Risch (R-ID) introduced a Senate Resolution to express the importance of strengthening the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership to promote stability, democracy, and economic prosperity in the 21st century. The Senators call for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be invited to address the United States Congress at the earliest opportunity, and for the U.S. to develop a clear strategic plan for its relationship with India, and for the U.S. to nominate and confirm an Ambassador to India as soon as possible. Warner and Cornyn are co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate India Caucus, of which Kaine is a member.
The resolution, S.Res.523, stresses the importance of working cooperatively to make progress that will benefit both of our countries across a broad range of areas, including defense, trade and commerce, regional cooperation, education and skills development, infrastructure, and energy.
“We have already seen progress in the U.S.-India relationship under the new Indian government, including the Pentagon naming Frank Kendall to lead the Defense Trade and Technology Initiative, lifting the cap on foreign direct investment in defense and insurance, a new emphasis on the U.S.-India Community College initiative, and convening a U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue in Delhi this week,” said Senator Warner, who called for these actions in his First-100-Days-plan. “This resolution will continue the positive trajectory that the First-100-days-plan established.”
“The relationship between the world’s oldest and the world’s largest democracies continues to hold tremendous potential, and there is strong bipartisan support for expanding U.S.-India cooperation going forward. I’m proud to support this resolution, which reflects my firm conviction that the U.S and India will continue to be natural allies in confronting some of the biggest global challenges of the 21st century,” said Senator Cornyn, Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus.
“This resolution sends a strong signal about the importance of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership and the bipartisan support the relationship enjoys on Capitol Hill,” said U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs. “The goal of this resolution, and of the India hearing I chaired on July 16th, is to encourage the Administration to outline an ambitious agenda for cooperation with one of our leading strategic partners of the 21st century. Our relationship with India matters today, and it will be even more central to U.S. interests in the decades to come. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to Washington soon. ”
“The U.S.-India Relationship is of great importance to me and the people of Idaho,” said Risch. “The Idaho National Lab has been a leader in this relationship, especially through leading the technical nuclear cooperation between our countries. I hope our administration and the new leadership in New Delhi will move quickly to improve our economic, military, and political cooperation,” said Senator Risch.
The Senate Resolution can be found here.
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