POLITICAL SCIENCE OPTIONAL
INDIA- USA : THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE
Note: These are basic write ups, Topics would be discussed in much detail in our Classroom Program.
India-U.S. bilateral relations have developed into a global strategic partnership, based on increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues. The summit level joint statement issued in June 2016 called the India-U.S. relationship an Enduring Global Partners in the 21st Century. Regular exchange of high-level political visits has provided sustained momentum to bilateral cooperation, while the wide-ranging and ever-expanding dialogue architecture has established a long-term framework for India-U.S. engagement. The U.S.-India relationship has undergone a transformation over the past decade. India being designated as a Major Defence Partner by USA and the various logistics access and interoperability agreements agreed upon testify to the enhanced strategic partnership between USA and India.
The first time an Indian Prime Minister met with an American President (Jawaharlal Nehru and Harry Truman in 1949) ”there were two items on the agenda: Kashmir and China. In the years that followed, India-U.S. relations waxed and waned, with more phases of the latter than the former. 9/11 terrorist attack reinforced a perception of a broader political and strategic similarity of interest pulling India and the US together
 Fortunately, thanks to efforts by successive governments in New Delhi and Washington, the two democracies have left the days of estrangement behind and have moved to a phase of more consistent engagement
The relationship between the United States and India, the world’s largest two democracies collectively housing over a billion and a half people, may turn out to be the world’s most important bilateral relationship in the 21st century. They share deep-seeded values underpinning their common experience of democratic governance amidst multihued social and cultural diversity.
Strategically the relationship is of vital importance to each other because:
- India, with more than one billion citizens, is often characterized as a nascent great power and indispensable partner of the United States, one that many analysts view as a potential counterweight to China’s growing clout.
- Many Americans understand the growing strategic importance of India. A strong India is important for balance of power purposes in Asia and for providing stability in the volatile and strategically important Indian Ocean littoral area.
- There has been a quantum jump in U.S.-India defence ties in the past several years with joint military exercises, the signing of a 10-year defence framework agreement, and increased interest in defence procurement and collaboration between defence industries.
- India is an important U.S. partner in international efforts to prevent the further spread of weapons of mass destruction. Despite India’s principled refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), India has shown itself to be a responsible steward of nuclear technology
- India’s position against radicalism and terrorism corresponds with that of the United States. India has suffered terribly from terrorism, and like the United States is determined to prevent, deter, and disrupt the terrorist groups that most threaten it. There was no hesitation to India’s offer of assistance to the United States following the attacks of September 11, 2001, because India viewed national interests as congruent with those of the United States in uprooting transnational terrorist groups.
- The United States will continue to be important for India’s economic success. India’s economy has been built around unleashing domestic consumption rather than relying on exports. Even so, India still needs strong trade and investment relationships to meet its vast economic potential. The U.S.-India trade relationship is both substantively important for India and mutually beneficial for both economies.
- Washington retains unparalleled power and influence in global governance institutions. It demonstrated a willingness to use that influence to India’s benefit when asking for an India-specific exemption in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. It is inconceivable that such an exemption would have been granted without U.S. leadership, allowing India to enter the non-proliferation mainstream and revitalize its nuclear energy sector.
- India and the United States have signed Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) that will enable both countries to use each others bases for repair and replenishment of defence supplies. The agreement would help India in carrying out operations in the Indian Ocean and expanding its maritime reach in the Asia Pacific
- China’s expanding connectivity initiatives in South Asia and the Indian Ocean is a growing area of concern for India. Delhi looks at the Belt and Road Initiative with suspicion and as a Chinese foreign policy tool to advance its strategic goals. Of particular concern is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that runs through the disputed territory of Kashmir and, according to Delhi, violates India’s sovereignty. During the recent meet between Modi and Trump, Delhi managed to gain Washington’s support on the issue
In marking 70 years of diplomatic relations between India and the United States, recently both the leaders Prime Minister Modi and President Trump resolved to expand and deepen the strategic partnership between the countries and advance common objectives. Above all, these objectives include combatting terrorist threats, promoting stability across the Indo-Pacific region, increasing free and fair trade, and strengthening energy linkages.
As responsible stewards in the Indo-Pacific region, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi agreed that a close partnership between the United States and India is central to peace and stability in the region. President Trump welcomed further Indian contributions to promote Afghanistan’s democracy, stability, prosperity, and security. Recognizing the importance of their respective strategic partnerships with Afghanistan, the leaders committed to continue close consultations and cooperation in support of Afghanistan’s future. In accord with India’s Think West policy, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi resolved to increase cooperation, enhance diplomatic consultations, and increase tangible collaboration with partners in the Middle East. The leaders strongly condemned continued provocations by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), emphasizing that its destabilizing pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile programs poses a grave threat to regional security and global peace. The leaders called on DPRK to strictly abide by its international obligations and commitments. The Leaders stressed that terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought and terrorist safe havens rooted out in every part of the world. They resolved that India and the United States will fight together against this grave challenge to humanity. India appreciated the United States designation of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen leader as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist as evidence of the commitment of the United States to end terror in all its forms. In this spirit, the leaders welcomed a new consultation mechanism on domestic and international terrorist designations listing proposals. The leaders called on Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries. They further called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, Pathankot, and other cross-border terrorist attacks perpetrated by Pakistan-based groups. The leaders also affirmed their support for a U.N. Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that will advance and strengthen the framework for global cooperation and reinforce the message that no cause or grievance justifies terrorism. Growing Strategic Convergence Further President Trump and Prime Minister Modi pledged to deepen defense and security cooperation, building on the United States recognition of India as a Major Defense Partner. The United States and India look forward to working together on advanced defence equipment and technology at a level commensurate with that of the closest allies and partners of the United States.
Resolving to expand their maritime security cooperation. President Trump welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s strong support for the United States to join as an Observer in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium. Noting the importance of the upcoming MALABAR naval exercise, the leaders determined to expand their engagements on shared maritime objectives and to explore new exercises. As global non-proliferation partners, the United States also expressed strong support for India’s early membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Wassenaar Arrangement, and the Australia Group. President Trump reaffirmed the support of the United States for India’ permanent membership on a reformed U.N. Security Council. Surveying United States-India energy ties and the two countries respective energy strategies, the leaders affirmed the continued importance of their Strategic Energy Partnership and of leveraging new opportunities to elevate cooperation to enhance global energy security. The leaders called for a rational approach that balances environment and climate policy, global economic development, and energy security needs. To conclude, this new face of U.S.-India engagement has been persistently deepening and fostering. So far that United States vividly support India’s rise as a vital component of Asian security and stability. It is necessary for India to have as friendly a relationship with the US as possible. It has to be managed in a way that one can extract the maximum from the relationship while minimising the compromises one has to make to achieve that.
