<p> The US has revived two major infrastructure projects in South and Southeast Asia in which India would be a vital player.<br /><br />The move could potentially act as a counter to China’s ambitious Belt and Road initiative.<br />The Trump administration has resuscitated the “New Silk Road” initiative, first announced by the then secretary of state Hillary Clinton in July 2011 in a speech in Chennai, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor linking South and Southeast Asia.<br /><br />A brief outline of the two projects was made available in the administration’s maiden annual budget on Tuesday, which indicated that the “New Silk Road” project would be a public-private initiative in which India would be an important player.<br /><br />The state department said the budgetary request of its South and Central Asia will support the two initiatives: the New Silk Road (NSR) focused on Afghanistan and its neighbours, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor linking South Asia with Southeast Asia. This request will be leveraged through side-by-side collaboration with regional countries, other bilateral donors, multilateral development banks and the private sector.<br /><br />It said “the importance of... the NSR grows” as the transition in Afghanistan continues and the US “strives to help the Afghan people succeed and stand on their own”.<br /><br />The state department said it will deepen support for the objectives through “far-reaching” public diplomacy programmes.<br /><br />According to James McBride of the Council on Foreign Relations, the NSR refers to a suite of joint investment projects and regional trade blocs that have the potential to bring economic growth and stability to Central Asia.<br /><br />“Following the surge of 30,000 additional troops into Afghanistan in 2009, which president Barack Obama’s administration had hoped would lay the groundwork for complete withdrawal a few years later, Washington began to lay out a strategy for supporting these initiatives through diplomatic means,” McBride said.<br /><br />Announcing her vision for a New Silk Road, Hillary had said: “Turkmen gas fields could help meet both Pakistan’s and India’s growing energy needs.”</p>
<p> The US has revived two major infrastructure projects in South and Southeast Asia in which India would be a vital player.<br /><br />The move could potentially act as a counter to China’s ambitious Belt and Road initiative.<br />The Trump administration has resuscitated the “New Silk Road” initiative, first announced by the then secretary of state Hillary Clinton in July 2011 in a speech in Chennai, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor linking South and Southeast Asia.<br /><br />A brief outline of the two projects was made available in the administration’s maiden annual budget on Tuesday, which indicated that the “New Silk Road” project would be a public-private initiative in which India would be an important player.<br /><br />The state department said the budgetary request of its South and Central Asia will support the two initiatives: the New Silk Road (NSR) focused on Afghanistan and its neighbours, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor linking South Asia with Southeast Asia. This request will be leveraged through side-by-side collaboration with regional countries, other bilateral donors, multilateral development banks and the private sector.<br /><br />It said “the importance of... the NSR grows” as the transition in Afghanistan continues and the US “strives to help the Afghan people succeed and stand on their own”.<br /><br />The state department said it will deepen support for the objectives through “far-reaching” public diplomacy programmes.<br /><br />According to James McBride of the Council on Foreign Relations, the NSR refers to a suite of joint investment projects and regional trade blocs that have the potential to bring economic growth and stability to Central Asia.<br /><br />“Following the surge of 30,000 additional troops into Afghanistan in 2009, which president Barack Obama’s administration had hoped would lay the groundwork for complete withdrawal a few years later, Washington began to lay out a strategy for supporting these initiatives through diplomatic means,” McBride said.<br /><br />Announcing her vision for a New Silk Road, Hillary had said: “Turkmen gas fields could help meet both Pakistan’s and India’s growing energy needs.”</p>