Indian Ambassador to U.S. Ronen Sen

Washington : The re-election of President George W. Bush augurs well for India-U.S. relations, says Indian Ambassador to the United States Ronen Sen.

The election “could only spell a greater understanding between the two countries and better appreciation of common interests, perceptions and aspirations,” Sen told News India-Times.

“It is definitely a fact that during the latter half of the Clinton administration, there was a significant boost to our relations with the U.S., especially in the post-Kargil period, but it was President Bush who took it to new heights by according special priority to India as an ‘emerging global power’ with which he said the U.S. should have a strategic partnership,” Sen said minutes after Bush was declared winner in the Nov 2 elections.

Sen said it was Bush who envisaged the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP) toup cooperation with India in the fields of space, nuclear energy, high technology and missile defense. His administration had also shown an eagerness to promote closer links in all the major areas of cooperation –– political, economic and military.

Recalling the meeting between Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in September on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly session, Sen said both sides agreed that “the best is yet to come in our bilateral ties.” It only means both sides are eager to not only maintain but also accelerate the momentum gained in the bilateral ties during Bush’s tenure. In this context, Sen also mentioned how India had gained bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress which was reflected in the Senate and House Caucuses on India and Indian Americans.