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Past Event
India Trilateral Forum: 16th Edition
June 12, 2019 to June 13, 2019
Malmo
The 16th edition of the India Trilateral Forum (ITF) took place in Malmö, Sweden on June 12-13, 2019 and was organized by The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). ITF offers a unique trilateral platform that brings together senior government officials, journalists, top strategic thinkers, and business leaders from United States, India, and Europe.
Topics at this year’s forum centered on the policy priorities of India’s new government as Prime Minister Narendra Modi soundly won reelection and solidified the Bharatiya Janata Party’s control of Indian politics. Participants also discussed trilateral perceptions of the China challenge and practical avenues for cooperation between the United States, Europe and India on regional connectivity and security in the Indo-Pacific. ITF 16 also covered the implications of the European Parliament elections for Europe’s internal unity and cohesion, and the issues that will dominate the upcoming U.S. elections.
To learn more about the conversations, explore #ITF16 and see pictures on Flickr from Day 1 and Day 2.
All set for our opening panel debate on the recently concluded elections in India at the #ITF16 with @d_jaishankar , @dhume , Aparna Pande. pic.twitter.com/QpNbtGXcTF
— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) June 12, 2019
Day 2 of #itf16 kicks off with a convo on perceptions of the China challenge. Particular focus on how the European view has changed in the last couple of years. Recent EU strategic outlook doc is a 10 point action plan. For the first time calls China a "systemic rival".
— Sharon Stirling (@SharonStirling) June 13, 2019
#ITF16 speaker: Balakot has shifted the balance of restraint [in the subcontinent] to Pakistan. It’s no longer India that’s expected to be restrained. The question now is how do you manage this new escalation ladder.
— Sadanand Dhume (@dhume) June 12, 2019
#ITF16 speaker: We’ve traditionally viewed the China-Pakistan relationship as, in part, designed to contain India. But this does not mean that they want to see conflict between India and Pakistan. That could be a lose-lose situation for China.
— Sadanand Dhume (@dhume) June 12, 2019
Question raised in multiple ways at #ITF16: Will the Modi gov’t push forward with necessary structural economic reforms with this renewed and impressive mandate? Is it willing and actually capable?
— Janka Oertel (@oertel_janka) June 12, 2019
#ITF16 speaker: US uncertainty and China’s rise are increasing India’s interest in Europe and the EU.
— Constantino Xavier (@ConstantinoX) June 13, 2019
Always refreshing to be allowed to participate in debates at #ITF16: controversial, frank, lots to learn.
— Janka Oertel (@oertel_janka) June 12, 2019
#IndiaTrilateralForum #ITF16 is all set to begin. Please follow exciting handles like @d_jaishankar @Cold_Peace_ @tanvi_madan @KanchanGupta @Aparna_Pande @GarimaMo @shrutipandalai and many more to know what is being said by experts and practitioners from #India #EU and the #USA pic.twitter.com/Ft3f4eM2Li
— Samir Saran (@samirsaran) June 12, 2019
#ITF16 speaker: Before Pulwama, India and Pakistan were living on borrowed time. We could not expect Indian restraint to last forever. In 2016 (Uri) we got a taste of that, and this year a bigger taste.
— Sadanand Dhume (@dhume) June 12, 2019
Our next #ITF16 sessions, experts debate how new tech will change the global economy, power dynamics, and security by answering the questions: Who will win and lose the “geotech” revolution? Can states cooperate on innovation?
— German Marshall Fund (@gmfus) June 13, 2019
The current policy of balancing and hedging in trade, tech and defence may make India weaker and not stronger. Potential that a constant strive for non-dependence makes the country actually dependent on too many others #ITF16
— Janka Oertel (@oertel_janka) June 12, 2019
My quarrel with that is - only Western Educated technocrats are not intellectuals. In fact, many of celebrated Indians abroad became intellectuals in India first before moving abroad whether for work or higher studies. #itf16 2/n
— GhoseSpot (@SandipGhose) June 12, 2019
It’s not live-streamed but you can follow #ITF16
— Garima Mohan (@GarimaMo) June 12, 2019
Garima Mohan
Fellow, Asia Program