India can become a world power: US official

Washington: The US has invested much of its time and energy to foster its relations with India because it believes India has the institutional capacity to become a world power, a top American official has said. “It (India) does have the institutional capacity. That’s why we invested so much of our time and energy to this relationship,” Robert Blake, assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, said Monday ahead of next week’s India-US strategic dialogue. [caption id=“attachment_333163” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake. Reuters”]  [/caption] “We believe it because there is growing strategic convergence between our two countries. We are two great democracies. We are two great market economies. And perhaps most of all we have capacity for innovation,” he said. Blake made the remark in response to a question after speaking on “The United States and India: Continued Strategic Engagement” at an event organised jointly by the Asia Society, East West Center and India-US World Affairs Institute. Looking at the growing strategic convergence between the two nations and the rapid strides made by the two sides in their ties over the last 10 years, Blake said: “It is not an exaggeration to say that even the sky is not the limit because we are talking about cooperation in space as well.” Over the last three years, he said, the two countries have expanded areas of cooperation to reflect 21st century needs, partnering across diverse areas such as education, clean energy and defence. Commending the crucial role of the Indian American community in fostering closer India-US ties, he said: “All of you are committed to shape and guide one of the defining bilateral relationships of the 21st century.” IANS