India-US ties: Depth & nuance

Source– The post is based on the article “India-US ties: Depth & nuance” published in the The Indian Express on 1st October 2022.

Syllabus: GS3- International Relations

Relevance– India and US relationship

News– The article explains the relationship between India and the USA.

How India-US relations have evolved historically?

Following the nuclear tests of May 1998, western world was angry with India. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee wrote to President Bill Clinton. He told the nuclear weapon threat from China compelled India to have its nuclear bomb.

Talks between then External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott led to President Clinton’s historic visit of March 2000.

The Indo-US nuclear deal during the George W Bush years further improved the strategic relationship.

Obama became the only President to make two visits to India. He hosted both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi in the White House.

During the Trump presidency, there was continuous improvement in relations. Quad framework was revived. Defence partnership became strong. There was signing of the foundational agreements like LEMOA, COMCASA.

The momentum of the relationship has continued under President Joe Biden especially on Indo-pacific strategy.

What are the current states of relationship?

Experts say that India’s relationship with the US has been the most comprehensive association since independence. India and US are seen as “natural allies” by leaders from India.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been a test case for the relationship. India did not criticize Russia. It has annoyed the west.

The US decision to provide F-16 to Pakistan has created friction between two sides.

Some analysts in New Delhi view the renewal of the US-Pakistan military engagement as a message to New Delhi for its strategy of “issue-based alignment.

There is absence of a full-time ambassador 20 months after the Biden Administration took charge.

Both see rising China as a common threat. USA was late in recognising the threat. Although the containment started with Obama pivot to Asia strategy, the Trump administration clearly spelled out China as a strategic rival.

US exit from Afghanistan has increased China leverage in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In this context, India has sought an exemption on S-400 from US sanctions.

The closeness between China and Russia is increasing. There is a need for improving the relationship by accommodating each other.