The India-US relationship has grown significantly since the 25 years ago when the US imposed sanctions on India after its nuclear weapons tests in 1998.
The relationship has been built by five American Presidents and three Indian Prime Ministers over the past two decades.
Different leaders focused on various aspects of diplomacy, such as summit-level diplomacy, nuclear diplomacy, trade, and military diplomacy.
Prime Minister Modi's recent visit to Washington led to advancements in technology diplomacy, including a promise of technology transfer for fighter jet engines.
India has seen the growth of ties as an opportunity to move past historical hesitations and Cold War-era policies towards the US.
The US has made exceptions specifically for India, indicating a shift from "American exceptionalism" to "American exception-ism for India."
The civil nuclear deal played a significant role in this relationship, with waivers and exemptions being granted to India despite it not being a part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The US has also made exceptions for India in regulations related to Russia, such as the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
India has been exempted from certain sanctions despite its ties with US adversaries like Russia and Iran.
The US has also granted exemptions to India under the International Religious Freedom Act.
The exceptions have been made without India accepting conditionalities or cutting ties with its adversaries.
Challenges to the relationship lie in the exceptions made for India, which can be reversed at any time, and the one-directional nature of the relationship in terms of investment and technology transfer.
The future growth of US-India ties will require a change in the rules and a transformation into a relationship between partners with mutual respect for strategic autonomy.
why the US is giving exceptional status to India:
Promise of ties: The US recognizes India as the world's most populous democracy and sees potential in fostering strong ties with India due to its history as an inclusive and pluralistic nation.
Economic and military opportunities: India's market size and status as a significant buyer of military equipment make it an attractive partner for the US.
The US aims to benefit from economic collaborations and strengthen bilateral trade with India.
Geopolitical considerations: India's strategic location in Asia, along with its border disputes with China, presents an opportunity for the US to establish a reliable partner in countering Chinese influence in the region.
Indian-American diaspora: The Indian-American community is successful, law-abiding, and prosperous.
This diaspora has become a strong advocate for closer India-US ties and has influenced the perception of India as an important partner.
Concerns
One-directional nature of the relationship: While the US has provided exceptions and waivers for India, the relationship remains largely one-directional
with India relying on the US for investments, technology transfer, and hardware procurement.
Achieving a more balanced and reciprocal relationship is a challenge that needs to be addressed.
Case-by-case basis: Advancements in areas such as high-tech co-production, clean energy transitions, semiconductor technology, and artificial intelligence are likely to proceed on a case-by-case basis, with no predictable timeline.
Cooperation in these areas will depend on specific circumstances and agreements.
Geopolitical context: The desire to counter China and contain Russia has influenced the US-India relationship.
However, this geopolitical construct is primarily an American perspective and may not fully align with India's priorities and foreign policy approach.
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Mechi River
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