India’s Relationship with the United States: Stronger Than Ever
Introduction
India’s relationship with the United States is currently at its strongest point in years. U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have held multiple bilateral meetings this year, and they are scheduled to meet again at the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi. However, despite the warming ties, experts believe that a traditional alliance between the two nations is unlikely.
The Complexity of India’s Independence
India has always been a fiercely independent country, and it values its ability to make autonomous decisions on various matters. Alyssa Ayres, an adjunct senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, explains that the traditional alliance relationships the United States has with other countries often require a level of deference that India is unwilling to provide.
India wants to protect its freedom of action and avoid constraints imposed by alliance agreements that might compromise its ability to act solely in its own interests.
Areas of Disagreement
Although India’s relationship with the United States is strengthening, there are still areas of disagreement. One notable point of contention is the Russia-Ukraine war. While the U.S. has condemned Russia’s actions, India has refrained from doing so and continues to import a significant portion of its crude oil from Moscow.
Alyssa Ayres emphasizes that this difference in stance reflects a divergence between American and Indian interests, and it is likely to remain an area of disagreement.
The Focus on Technology Partnership
Although a traditional alliance may not be on the table, the partnership between India and the U.S. will continue to strengthen, particularly in the field of technology. In May, Biden and Modi announced several technology and defense deals, highlighting their commitment to collaboration in areas such as diversifying supply chains, space exploration, and artificial intelligence.
Evan Feigenbaum, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, believes that technology has played a significant role in improving the India-U.S. relationship. He suggests that India’s tested domestic models and ideas, especially in the digital infrastructure sector, are increasingly relevant and valuable to regions like Africa and the Middle East.
India’s achievements in digital infrastructure, such as enabling access to banking services for the unbanked population, are likely to be showcased at the G20 summit.
