NEW DELHI: Apart from trade relations, India and the US appear to have overcome some rocky moments in their relationship ahead of the first high-level dialogue in the national capital next month. Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale was in the US last week to do the groundwork for the dialogue to be held on September 6.

India and US are in discussions on bringing the US as a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which would be a feather in New Delhi’s cap if Washington agrees. The Trump administration had walked away from the Paris Accord in 2017.

With India getting a waiver in the CAATSA provisions and a tier-1 approval in the strategic trade authorization (STA) by the US, the atmosphere has improved considerably since the second postponement of the 2+2 talks spelt a downswing in the relationship.

India is ready to sign the second defense interoperability agreement, Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) with the US, second of three “foundational” agreements. However, the third agreement, Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), is still in progress, with sources saying that it may happen only by year-end. But with COMCASA, India and US can work together on areas like maritime domain awareness (MDA), etc, sources said. India signed the LEMOA in 2016, which allows them to use each other’s bases to replenish military supplies.

On the trade front, however, India and the US remain far apart. Sources said there has been no meeting ground between the two sides. Commerce minister Suresh Prabhu, who had travelled to the US in order to try and find a solution, has drawn a blank. Part of the problem is that Indian negotiators are unwilling to give much ground especially in an election year. On the US side, the president’s focus on trade deficits, etc means there is no give on that side either.

