US for greater strategic cooperation with India: Roemer

Having formalised the civil nuclear deal, the US is looking at higher level of strategic engagement with India.

Having formalised the civil nuclear deal, the US is looking at higher level of strategic engagement with India.

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“We have made great progress on the civilian nuclear deal. There are three or four issues left to complete...,” US Ambassador Timothy J Roemer told reporters.

“Now, there is an opportunity to move from one important area to four-five important strategic areas. These areas involve defence and strategic cooperation, besides cooperation in trade and investment, science and technology and education,” he said.

The US envoy also said cooperation could be extended to fields like women’s empowerment, agriculture, environment protection and energy security.

On Home Minister P Chidambaram’s recent visit to the US, he said it was “very successful”.

“The discussions (Chidambaram had in the US) included ways to further improve sharing of intelligence, technology, forensics, biometrics and training opportunities,” he said, adding, “Our governments are working towards making India and the US safer. Chidambaram’s visit underscores our cooperation on national security issues.”