INDO-US STRATEGIC RELATIONS IN 21ST CENTURY

Balwinder Singh

doi:10.29121/granthaalayah.v5.i7.2017.2148

Abstract

The disintegration of Soviet Union had positively impacted Indo-US relations in post Cold-War era. The post Cold-War strategic scenario provided a chance to both countries to redefine their bilateral priorities. The US was always keen to improve bilateral relationship with India and therefore India initiated Defence cooperation with the US in changing strategic environment. India’s nuclear explosion [1998] had posed some divergences in Indo-US relationship. India and the US signed strategic partnership in 2000 and therefore the US set-aside its sanctions against India. India signed ‘Next Steps in Strategic Partnership’ [NSSP] with the US in 2004 and both countries started strategic dialogue in 2009. Both the nations signed a ‘New Framework for Defence Relationship’ in 2005 and ‘123 Civil Nuclear Agreement’ in 2008. India has always supported US’s ‘pivot-aria’ policy and played a meaningful role in counter China strategy. India and the US renewed their ‘New Framework for Defence Relationship’ in 2015 and signed ‘Logistic Support Agreement’ in 2016. Indo-US strategic relations were touched new heights when the Obama administration had declared India as a major Defence partner in 2016. The new US President Trump also showed its softness towards India and called Indian Prime Minister Modi as a ‘True Friend of US’. The decline of US-Pakistan strategic relations has positively affected Indo-US relations. The Pakistan factor has always affected Indo-US relations. The US administration considers that India would play a meaningful role in counter China planning. The study explores the raison d’être of Indo-US strategic partnership. The present paper intends to look into the Indo-US strategic cooperation and points out the improvement in Indo-US strategic relations in 21st century.

Highlights

Indo-US relations have gone through many ups and downs especially in Cold War Era [19451990]
Since the Cold War culmination, Indo-US bilateral relationship has been on the track to reinforce strategic ties
The dissolution of the erstwhile Soviet Union has been an impetus for Indo-US relations

Summary

Introduction

Indo-US relations have gone through many ups and downs especially in Cold War Era [19451990]. Since the Cold War culmination, Indo-US bilateral relationship has been on the track to reinforce strategic ties Both countries want to enhance cooperation through strategic partnership and defence collaboration. After the disintegration of USSR, India began to review its foreign policy in a uni-polar world and took steps to develop close strategic ties with the United States. Both the nations initiated defence cooperation due to common security interests and challenges. India for the implementation of IMF orders had adopted new economic policy known as LPG [Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization] in 1991 These steps were welcomed by the US and other developed countries and they started to pump in their investment in India.

Indo-US Strategic Relations in 21st Century

Conclusion