Northeast India key to Indo-Pacific strategy, says US at Kolkata Quad dialogue

This growing importance was underscored at the “U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific: North Eastern Dialogue – Kolkata Chapter,” hosted by the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata in partnership with the think tank, Observer Research Foundation (ORF).

Held at the American Centre Kolkata, the dialogue brought together around 30 stakeholders from across Northeastern states, serving as a national-level pre-dissemination consultation ahead of a major policy engagement scheduled in New Delhi in March.

Over the past year, these dialogues were conducted in Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram, bringing together stakeholders from academia, industry, media, civil society and other sectors to assess the Northeast’s opportunities and challenges within the Indo-Pacific framework.

Explaining the process, ORF senior director Nilanjan Ghosh said participants were asked to share their views on growth prospects, as well as the key obstacles and possibilities facing the region. 

“We conducted two rounds of surveys — one before and another after the dialogues — to track changes in perception,” he said.

According to Ghosh, the consultations led to a notable shift in outlook. 

“People no longer see the Northeast only through a security lens. There is now a growing recognition of its development potential,” he added.

Photo: U.S. Consulate General Kolkata

Quad vision and US-India partnership in focus

Addressing the gathering, U.S. Consul General Kathy Giles-Diaz reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. 

She said the Quad partnership involving India, the United States, Japan, and Australia plays a pivotal role in safeguarding maritime routes, strengthening supply chains, and promoting regional stability.

“The U.S.–India partnership sits at the heart of this effort,” Giles-Diaz said, adding that Kolkata’s historical role as India’s gateway to the Bay of Bengal makes it a natural venue for such discussions. 

As India deepens its engagement with the Indo-Pacific, she noted, eastern and northeastern regions are once again becoming central to global trade and economic growth.

She highlighted that the Quad is delivering tangible outcomes in areas such as disaster response, infrastructure development, clean energy, critical technologies, and supply-chain resilience.

Connectivity key to regional growth

Participants discussed how improved connectivity through ports, railways, inland waterways, highways, and digital corridors can better integrate Eastern and Northeastern India into global markets. 

Giles-Diaz stressed that modern infrastructure does not just move goods but creates jobs, attracts investment, and strengthens long-term economic resilience.

Referring to her recent visits to Kolkata and Haldia ports, she emphasised the importance of maritime security for uninterrupted trade. 

Safe sea lanes, she said, ensure stable energy supplies, reliable exports, and smooth commercial activity across the Indo-Pacific.

Shift in perception about Northeast

Nilanjan Ghosh revealed that stakeholder surveys conducted before and after similar dialogues across six Northeastern states showed a shift in perception. 

“The region is no longer seen only through a security lens but as a zone of development and opportunity,” he said.

The year-long consultations in Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram shaped the discussions presented at the Kolkata chapter.

US officials share strategic insights

Virtual presentations were delivered by Abigail Bard, Quad Team Coordinator, and Jeffrey Wang, Quad Team Lead and Political Officer at the U.S. State Department. 

They outlined America’s strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific and emphasised the centrality of maritime security to economic stability.

Both officials stressed the need for stronger cooperation among Quad nations to counter coercive economic practices and protect critical sea lanes and digital infrastructure.

 

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)