India - USA - Class Notes 4 You

India - USA

In the words of Dennis Kux , India and USA have moved a long way from estranged democracies to engaged democracies embodying the most defining partnership of 21st century.
Shared democratic values and converging global interests unite Washington and New Delhi in a “strategic handshake”

With no other country does India have over 60 dialogue mechanisms at practically all levels.

There has been a conviction that a true India-US strategic partnership would serve our national interests in a changed geopolitical situation. While both countries have always fought shy of saying that their partnership is to balance china, it is clear that the rise of China was one of the major spurs.

The Biden administration’s March 2021 “Interim National Security guidance” has described the “deepening partnership” with India as being critical to America’s “vital national interests.”
India US- comprehensive global strategic partnership
India- Russia- special and privileged partnership
India- South Korea- special strategic partnership
India- Japan- special strategic and global partnership

$145 in 2021 of bilateral trade with Target of meeting $500B bilateral trade by 2025

India conducts more military exercises with US than with any other country
Started with defence framework agreement of 2005.
DTTI- Defence Technology and Trade initiative Signed for co development and co production of defence technology
India was granted status of “major defence partner “ and subsequently the STA- 1 status that allows for easing of exports of sensitive technologies.
2+2 level talks at ministerial level to promote synergy on their diplomatic and security efforts
$18B defence contracts
India conducts more bilateral exercises with the US than with any other country
Some important ex are- yudh abhyas, tiger triumph, cope India.
First INDUSTRIAL SECURITY ANNEX summit held this year strengthen defence industrial cooperation between both countries.

4 million strong diaspora that wields a political clout (the senate friends of India group).
The ORF Foreign Policy Survey 2021: Young India and the World [4] ranked the US as the most trusted country.
Energy: India has started importing crude and LNG from US. The total value of which amounts to US $9 billion. US is now India’s 6th largest crude oil supplier.

Talks of establishing 6 AP 1000 reactors in Andhra Pradesh—> joint project of Westinghouse and NPCIL
Indo-US civil nuclear deal

During COVID USAID provided India with 200 ventilators while India exported HCQs and PPE kits.
Recently President Trump presented The legion of merit medal to PM Modi for his leadership in elevating the Indo-US ties to a new level.
PM Modi at address to US Congress- Indo-US partnership is based on both, principle and pragmatism.
Against the backdrop of a rising and aggressive China, Modi and Biden “reiterated the importance of working with like-minded countries to ensure a rule-based international order” and “also agreed to continue close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, including support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad.”
India and the United States “are moving towards a partnership that increasingly has some of the characteristics of an alliance but without the commitment to defence that is the heart of any alliance," avers Shivshankar Menon, former NSA, in his book ‘India and Asian Geopolitics’.
Climate change-

Climate and clean Agenda Partnership
Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD) for helping India achieve 450GW target by 2030.

India is under US’s “priority watch-list” which identifies countries posing challenge to American IPR
problems in trade b/w India and USA:

Tariffs by US on aluminium and steel
Removal of India from GSP status
USA wanting India to reduce tariffs on medical devices like stents, knee implements dairy products, IT products. USA gives huge subsidy to their farmers
USTR has removed India from developing countries status. it will be easier for the USA to apply CVD against Indian imports.
India also not happy with USA making WTO dispute settlement mechanism defunct
Trade policy forum (meeting took place after 4 years) has decided to take ties to “next high level” resolving issues regarding greater market access for Indian agri products , IT services and restoration of GSP status

Way forward:The US is used to dealing with allies (invariably junior partners in a US dominated alliance structure) and adversaries. India falls into neither category. Therefore, engaging as equal partners has been a learning experience for both India and the US.

Conclusion : USA and India may disagree on multiple issues but as they work together , they form an unbeatable partnership.

Class Notes 4 You