Bridging Strategic Asia: Conclusion

December 16, 2008

As relations among India, Japan, and the United States have evolved gradually over the past decade, the three countries, at both official and unofficial levels, have begun to consider common interests and potential cooperation on a range of international issues. Indeed, the policy communities in all three countries are just beginning to tear down the conceptual barriers that have divided South and East Asia in their strategic mindsets.

In June 2007 and February 2008, the International Security Program and South Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in partnership with the Japan Institute of International Affairs, held private two-day meetings in Washington, D.C., and Tokyo, Japan, entitled "Bridging Strategic Asia: The United States, Japan, and India". The objective of the meetings was to continue the process of interaction among the three countries through dialogue on international security issues among a select group of younger U.S., Japanese, and Indian foreign policy and security specialists. A corollary purpose of the initiative was to build a network that may form the basis for continued interaction and dialogue among the three countries in the future. This report summarizes the discussions held at the meetings.