US seeks strong partnership with Narendra Modi government

"We expect that the Strategic Dialogue will kick off a series of cabinet- and sub-cabinet-level visits throughout the late summer and fall, culminating in the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Washington at the invitation of the President," Biswal said.

Amy Searight, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence highlighting the significant role played by defence relations in advancing India-US strategic partnership told the panel that "we want India to have all of the capabilities it needs to meet its security demands, and we want to be a strong partner in that effort."

Under the US-India Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI), "we are ready to move forward on a number of efforts, from co-production/co-development proposals to procurement and sales," she said.

Frank G. Wisner, former US ambassador to New Delhi told a second panel that India can emerge as one of America's "major strategic and economic partners and in turn, we can help India strengthen India's security and promote the welfare of its people."

Richard M. Rossow, Wadhwani Chair in US-India Policy Studies at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said "the reasons for strategic partnership with India are stronger now than they were a decade ago."

"America needs to approach these next two months without putting a ceiling on how big we are thinking, and without the baggage of the last five years," he said.

Lisa Curtis, Senior Research Fellow, Asian Studies Centre at the Heritage Foundation said "If the US demonstrates its willingness to establish close ties with the new government, it is likely that the BJP will reciprocate and the two sides can refocus on achieving the vision of a durable and strategic partnership."