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On 26 Sep 2016, the VIF held a fascinating interaction with Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer, former Member of the US Congress for six terms from Indiana and Ambassador to India (2009-2011), sharing his perspective on the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as also the future direction in Indo-US relations.

Kick-starting the session, General NC Vij, Director, VIF, underlined the markers in the ever growing partnership between India and the United States, while hoping the relationship would continue to flourish irrespective of who wins the race to the White House. Amb Lalitman Singh, India’s former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to the United States, who chaired the session at the behest of Director VIF, complimented Amb Timothy Roemer for laying the foundation of strong and vibrant Indo-US relations that we see today. Concurring with General Vij’s views, he said that the US Presidential election remains a globally-watched event as countries around the globe, including India, have a stake in it.

Amb Tmothy J. Roemer, an advisor to the Presidential nominee Ms Hillary Clinton on security and foreign policy issues, offered a fair and objective analysis of the impending US presidential election notwithstanding his political affiliation. He stressed, among other things, the election is being held amid negative trends all over as people are angry and frustrated. The outcome of the election however is dependent on a number of other factors, including distinct personalities that both candidates represent,how well they are able to connect to the electorate, the composition of the electorate college itself, the outreach of technology, among other factors.

Amb Roemer however was reassuring that regardless of the outcome of the 2016 US Presidential election, the bilateral relationship between India and the United States would continue to move in an upward trajectory.