In a significant milestone, the United States and India have signed a Cultural Property Agreement, marking a major step forward in their cooperation to protect cultural heritage. The agreement was signed on July 26, by US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti and Govind Mohan, Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Culture, in the presence of Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
This agreement is the culmination of nearly two years of collaborative efforts by experts from both countries and fulfills the commitment made by President Biden and Prime Minister Modi in June 2023 to enhance cooperation in protecting cultural heritage.
The Cultural Property Agreement aims to prevent the illegal trade of cultural property and simplify the process of returning looted and stolen antiquities to their country of origin. This agreement reinforces the US commitment to protecting and preserving cultural heritage worldwide and restricting trafficking in cultural property.
Ambassador Garcetti emphasized the significance of the agreement, stating that it is about justice and connecting India with the world, allowing global citizens to experience and appreciate Indian culture. He also commended the Government of India for hosting UNESCO’s 46th session of the World Heritage Committee, demonstrating India’s commitment to protecting cultural property globally.
Ambassador Garcetti stated at the signing ceremony: “This cultural property agreement is about two things. First and foremost, it’s about justice – returning to India and to Indians, what is rightfully theirs. Secondly, it’s about connecting India with the world. Every American and every global citizen deserves to know, see, and experience the culture that we celebrate here today. To know Indian culture is to know human culture.”
With this agreement, India joins 29 existing US bilateral cultural property agreement partners. The US-India Cultural Property Agreement was negotiated under the US law implementing the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.