US-India Relations: Continuity Amid Political Change

Syllabus: International Relations

Source: TH

Context: India’s relationship with the US has thrived under both Republican and Democratic administrations. As the US faces potential leadership changes with either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, India’s ties with Washington are expected to remain strong due to their well-established foundation.

Key Points from the article:

• Consistent Growth: India’s relationship with the US has strengthened over the years, from President Bill Clinton to Joe Biden. Both the Trump and Biden administrations have advanced this partnership, and India’s leaders across party lines have supported deepening these ties.

• Geopolitical Position: The US is India’s most significant global partner, surpassing China and Russia in economic and technological engagement. Despite internal and external challenges, the US-India relationship remains a priority.

• Policy Continuity: Both Trump and Harris are likely to continue supporting strong US-India relations. Harris’s stances on immigration, trade, technology, and Eurasian security suggest alignment with key Indian interests. Her focus on legal immigration, trade relief, and technology collaboration could benefit India.

• Strategic Cooperation: The shared interest in countering Chinese influence and building a multipolar Asia will likely persist. Harris’s previous engagement with Asia and commitment to NATO and Ukraine align with India’s strategic goals.

Evolution of India-US relations over time:

Era/Period | Key Developments

From Estrangement to Engagement – The Cold War Thaw | – Cold War Era: India and the US were on opposite sides; India pursued non-alignment while Pakistan aligned with the US. – 1990s Thaw: Relations began to warm with India’s economic liberalization and the end of the Cold War. – 2000 Visit: President Bill Clinton’s visit marked the first presidential visit in over 20 years. – 2004 NSSP: The signing of the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP) strengthened ties. – Increased Dialogue: Strategic dialogues and economic cooperation began to grow.

Nuclear Breakthrough – A New Era of Trust | – 2008 Civil Nuclear Agreement: Ended India’s nuclear isolation and recognized it as a responsible nuclear power. – Global Integration: Paved the way for India’s integration into the global nuclear order. – Defense and High-Tech Cooperation: Increased cooperation in defence and high-technology sectors. – US Commitment: Demonstrated the US’s commitment to elevating India’s global stature.

Defense Ties – From Buyer to Partner | – Early 2000s Growth: Defense cooperation grew significantly. – 2016 Major Defense Partner: The US designated India as a Major Defense Partner. – 2018 STA Tier 1: India received license-free access to a wide range of military and dual-use technologies. – Foundational Agreements: LEMOA (2016), COMCASA (2018), and BECA (2020) enabled deeper military cooperation. – Joint Exercises & 2+2 Dialogue: Strengthened strategic ties through joint exercises like Malabar and the establishment of the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

Economic Synergy – Beyond Trade to Strategic Cooperation | – 2023-24 Trade: Bilateral trade reached USD 118.28 billion; US is India’s largest trading partner and significant source of FDI. – Expanded Cooperation: Beyond trade, areas like clean energy, digital economy, and healthcare are key. – SCEP 2021: US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership. – Covid-19 Vaccine Collaboration: Demonstrates evolving economic ties.

Collaborating in the Digital Age | – Technology Cooperation: Focus on emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and 5G. – 2009 Endowment Fund: US-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund fostered innovation. – Recent Initiatives: US-India Artificial Intelligence Initiative and Critical and Emerging Technology Initiative (iCET) launched in 2022.

Geopolitical Alignment – Partners in the Indo-Pacific | – China’s Rise: Brought India and the US closer strategically. – Quad Revival: Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) with Japan and Australia. – Indo-Pacific Strategy: India’s inclusion in the US Indo-Pacific strategy. – Joint Statements & Initiatives: Emphasis on a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and initiatives like the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative.

Other areas of India-US Partnership

Highlights | Description

High-Tech Partnership | Semiconductor supply chain agreements; Introduced Indo-U.S. Quantum Coordination Mechanism to facilitate better collaboration among academia and industries;

Defence Cooperation | · Strategic Defence partnership; India – US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X); · MoU between GE and HAL for manufacturing GE-F414 jet engines in India (with 80% technology transfer) to be used in Tejas Mk2 · Purchase of 16 armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs; · Defence acceleration ecosystems; · Ship repair agreements; · Placement of Indian liaison officers at US commands

Space Cooperation | · India signing the Artemis Accords for lunar and space exploration; · NASA provides advanced training to Indian astronauts; · Strategic Framework for human spaceflight cooperation by 2023 end · NASA and ISRO have agreed to launch a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024

Trade and Consular Issues | Resolution of WTO disputes and market access; Establishment of new consulates in India (Bengaluru and Ahmedabad) and the US (India’s consulate in Seattle); Relaxation in H1B visa norms

Clean Energy | · US-India New and Emerging Renewable Energy Technologies Action Platform to accelerate cooperation in green hydrogen and other emerging technologies. · The U.S. Agency for International Development is to support Indian Railways’ to become a “net-zero” carbon emitter by 2030. · India joins the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) to advance critical energy minerals supply chains globally, adhering to environmental and social standards.

Innovation partnership | Created a new Joint Task Force of the Association of American Universities and leading Indian educational institutions to expand research and university partnerships.

· MoU between GE and HAL for manufacturing GE-F414 jet engines in India (with 80% technology transfer) to be used in Tejas Mk2

· Purchase of 16 armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs;

· Defence acceleration ecosystems;

· Ship repair agreements;

· Placement of Indian liaison officers at US commands

· NASA provides advanced training to Indian astronauts;

· Strategic Framework for human spaceflight cooperation by 2023 end

· NASA and ISRO have agreed to launch a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024

· The U.S. Agency for International Development is to support Indian Railways’ to become a “net-zero” carbon emitter by 2030.

· India joins the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) to advance critical energy minerals supply chains globally, adhering to environmental and social standards.

Insta Links:

India-US Economic Relations

Mains Links:

• What introduces friction into the ties between India and the United States is that Washington is still unable to find India a position in its global strategy, which would satisfy India’s National self-esteem and ambitions’. Explain with suitable examples. ( UPSC 2019)

Prelim Links:

India Government Bond Yields are influenced by which of the following? (UPSC 2021)

• Actions of the United States Federal Reserve.

• Actions of the Reserve Bank of India.

• Inflation and short-term interest rates.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 Only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer:D