 | |
 India |  United States |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of India, Washington, D.C. | Embassy of the United States, New Delhi |
| Envoy | |
| AmbassadorVinay Mohan Kwatra | AmbassadorEric Garcetti |
Relations betweenIndia and theUnited States date back toIndia's independence movement and have continued well after independence from theUnited Kingdom in 1947. Currently, India and the United States enjoyclose relations and have deepened collaboration on issues such ascounterterrorism and counteringChinese influence in theIndo-Pacific.[1]
Gallup's annual World Affairs survey shows India is perceived byAmericans as their sixth favorite nation in the world, with 71% of Americans viewing India favorably in 2015,[2] and 70% in 2023.[3] Gallup polls found that 74% of Americans viewed India favorably in 2017,[4] 72% in 2019,[5] 75% in 2020[6] and 77% in 2022.[7] According to aMorning Consult poll conducted in August 2021 after thefall of Afghanistan, 79% of Indians viewed the United States favorably, compared to 10% who viewed the United States unfavorably. This was the highest favorability rating out of all 15 major countries surveyed and higher than U.S. citizens' own favorability rating of the U.S. at the time.[8]
In 1954, the United States madePakistan a Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) ally.[9] As a result, India cultivated strategic and military relations with theSoviet Union to counterPakistan–United States relations.[10] In 1961, India became a founding member of theNon-Aligned Movement to abstain from aligning with either the US or the USSR in theCold War.[11] TheNixon administration's support for Pakistan during theIndo-Pakistani War of 1971 affected relations until thedissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. In the 1990s, Indianforeign policy adapted to theunipolar world and India developed closer ties with the United States.[12]
In the twenty-first century, Indian foreign policy has sought to leverage India's strategic autonomy to safeguard sovereign rights and promote national interests within a multi-polar world.[13][14]
Under the administrations of PresidentsGeorge W. Bush (2001–09) andBarack Obama (2009–2017), the United States has demonstrated accommodation to India's core national interests and acknowledged outstanding concerns.[15] Increase in bilateraltrade andinvestment, co-operation onglobal security matters, inclusion of India in decision-making on matters of global governance (United Nations Security Council), upgraded representation in trade and investment forums (World Bank,IMF,APEC), admission into multilateral export control regimes (MTCR,Wassenaar Arrangement,Australia Group) and support for admission in theNuclear Suppliers Group and joint-manufacturing through technology sharing arrangements have become key milestones and a measure of speed and advancement on the path to closer US–India relations.[16][17]
Since 2014, strategic cooperation between the two nations has deepened[18] and India was declared a "Major Defense Partner" of the United States.[19] India and the United States have also stepped up their cooperation among multilateral groups such asThe Quad andI2U2 Group.[20]
The term "Indian", which has been used as an alternative for theIndigenous peoples of the Americas, originated withChristopher Columbus, who, in his search forIndia, thought that he had arrived in theEast Indies. This historical misnomer has persisted over the centuries, shaping cultural perceptions and narratives surrounding Native American identity.[21][22][23][24][25][26]
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Elihu Yale (1649–1721) was an American-born merchant and official of the BritishEast India Company, best known for his philanthropic contributions that led to the establishment ofYale University. Yale's connection to India was significant; he served as the Governor of the British East India Company settlement in Madras (now Chennai) from 1687 to 1692, amassing considerable wealth through trade in textiles, spices, and other commodities.[27]
Prior to the 1770s, Americans admired the expansion of theBritish Empire, feeling proud to be part of an expansion of British influence around the world.[28]Thomas Paine, author of the influential revolutionary pamphletCommon Sense, was a notable voice of dissent in the late 18th century, as he saw theBritish East India Company'srise in Bengal as extortionate and foreshadowing what would happen to the United States if it failed to secure its independence.[29]
Due to connections between the East India Company and theThirteen Colonies, many Indians (from places such asBombay andBengal) were sent to the latter forslavery or indentured servitude.[30] Today, descendants of such East Indian slaves may have a small percent of DNA from Asian ancestors but it likely falls below the detectable levels for today's DNA tests.[31]
Great Britain andFrance had territories in the Americas as well as theIndian subcontinent. In 1778, when Francedeclared war against Britain, fighting broke out betweenBritish andFrench colonies in India.[32] This marked the beginning of theSecond Anglo-Mysore War.Hyder Ali, the Sultan of theKingdom of Mysore, allied himself with the French. From 1780 to 1783, Franco-Mysorean forces fought in several campaigns against the British in western and southern India, in several places such asMahé andMangalore.[33] This coincided with theAmerican Revolutionary War, which also involved French forces helping in a struggle for independence against the British.[28] Thus, the AmericanFounding Fathers maintained awareness and admiration of affairs in Mysore.[34] The AmericanContinental Congress, unable to send a full expedition to the subcontinent, instead encouraged its pirate navy to attack East India Company ships.[28]
On June 29, with both sides weakened, the British dispatchedHMSMedea to surrender, with letters to the French stating theAmerican Revolutionary War was over.[35] TheTreaty of Paris was drafted on November 30, 1782, months before theSiege of Cuddalore but news did not reach India until seven months later, due to the delay of communications to India. The treaty was finally signed on September 3, 1783 and was ratified by theU.S. Congress a few months later. Under the terms of the treaty, Britain returnedPondicherry back to the French andCuddalore was returned to the British.[33] The flag of theEast India Company is said to have inspired theGrand Union Flag of 1775, ultimately inspiring the currentflag of the United States, as both flags were of the same design.[36]Mysorean rockets were also used in theBattle of Baltimore, and are mentioned in "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the United States:And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air.[37]
British Army officerCharles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis, who led the British surrender during theSiege of Yorktown, which caused the end of warfare operations in North America during the American Revolution, later went on to serve as Governor-General of India and played a significant role in expanding British control over the subcontinent.[38][39]
 India |  United States |
|---|---|
The relationships between India in the days of theBritish Raj and theUnited States were thick.[40]Swami Vivekananda promotedYoga andVedanta in the United States at theWorld's Parliament of Religions inChicago, during theWorld's Fair in 1893.Mark Twain visited India in 1896[41] and described it in his travelogueFollowing the Equator with both revulsion and attraction before concluding that India was the only foreign land he dreamed about or longed to see again.[42] Regarding India, Americans learned more from English writerRudyard Kipling.[43]Mahatma Gandhi had an important influence on the philosophy of non-violence promoted by Americancivil rights movement leaderMartin Luther King Jr. in the 1950s.[44]
In the 1930s and early-1940s, U.S. PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt voiced strong support to theIndian independence movement despite being allies with Britain.[45][46] The first significant immigration from Indiabefore 1965 involved Sikh farmers going toCalifornia in the early-twentieth century.[47]
United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind was a landmark legal case in the United States that reverberated through issues of immigration, citizenship, and race. In 1920, Bhagat Singh Thind, an Indian Sikh man, applied for naturalization under theNaturalization Act of 1906, which permitted naturalization only for "free white persons" and "persons of African nativity or descent." Thind contended that his high-caste Indian heritage aligned with the scientific definition of "Caucasian," thereby qualifying him for citizenship."[48]
The case reached the Supreme Court of the United States in 1923. However, the Court unanimously ruled against Thind, asserting that while he might indeed meet the scientific classification of "Caucasian," the term "white person" in the naturalization laws was construed to apply exclusively to individuals of European descent. This pivotal decision had far-reaching implications, not only for Thind but for countless other South Asians aspiring for U.S. citizenship. It set a legal precedent that explicitly excluded South Asians from being considered "white" for naturalization purposes, effectively prohibiting their path to citizenship.
During World War II, 1941–1945, India became the main base for the AmericanChina Burma India Theater (CBI) in the war against Japan. Tens of thousands of American servicemen arrived, bringing all sorts of advanced technology, and currency; they left in 1945. Serious tension erupted over American demands, led by U.S. PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt, that India be given independence, a propositionChurchill vehemently rejected. For years, Roosevelt encouraged British disengagement from India. The American position was based on an opposition to Europeans having colonies and a practical concern for the outcome of the war, and the expectation of a large American role in a post-independence era. Churchill threatened to resign if Roosevelt continued to push his case, causing Roosevelt to back down.[49][50] Meanwhile, India became the main American staging base to fly aid to China. DuringWorld War II, thePanagarh Airport inBengal Province of India was used as a supply transport airfield from 1942 to 1945 by theUnited States Army Air ForcesTenth Air Force and as a repair and maintenance depot forB-24 Liberator heavy bombers byAir Technical Service Command.[51][52]
The United States under theTruman administration leaned towards favouring India in the late-1940s as a consequence of most U.S. planners seeing India more valuable diplomatically than neighboring Pakistan.[53] However, during theCold War, Nehru's policy of neutrality was cumbersome to many American observers. American AmbassadorHenry F. Grady told theState Department in December 1947 that he had informed Nehru "that this is a question that cannot be straddled and that India should get on the democratic side immediately".[54] In 1948, Nehru rejected American suggestions for resolving the Kashmir crisis via third party mediation.[55] Nehru's 1949 tour of the United States was "an undiplomatic disaster" that left bad feelings on both sides.[56] Nehru and his top aideV. K. Krishna Menon discussed whether India should "align with United States 'somewhat' and build up our economic and military strength."[57] TheTruman administration was quite favorable and indicated it would give Nehru anything he asked for. Nehru refused, and thereby forfeited the chance for a gift of one million tons of wheat.[58] The American Secretary of StateDean Acheson recognized Nehru's potential world role but added that he was "one of the most difficult men with whom I have ever had to deal."[59] The American visit had some benefits in that Nehru gained widespread understanding and support for his nation, and he himself gained a much deeper understanding of the American outlook.[60]
India rejected the American advice that it should not recognize the Communist conquest of China, but it did back the US when it supported the1950 United Nations resolution condemning North Korea's aggression in the Korean War. India tried to act as a mediator to help end the war, and served as a conduit for diplomatic messages between the US and China. Although no Indian troops took part in the war, India did send a Medical Corps of 346 army doctors to help the UN side.[61] Meanwhile, poor harvests forced India to ask for American aid for its food security, which was givenstarting in 1950.[62] In the first dozen years of Indian independence (1947–59), the US provided $1.700,000,000 in aid; including $931,000,000 in food. The Soviet Union provided about half as much in monetary terms, however made much larger contributions in kind, taking the form of infrastructural aid, soft loans, technical knowledge transfer, economic planning and skills involved in the areas ofsteelmills,machine building, hydroelectric power and other heavy industries, especiallynuclear energy andspace research.[63] In 1961, the U.S. pledged $1,000,000,000 in development loans, in addition to $1,300,000,000 of free food.[64] PresidentEisenhower sentJohn Sherman Cooper as ambassador in 1956–57, who got along very well with Nehru.[65]
In terms of rhetoric,Jawaharlal Nehru—as both prime minister and foreign minister (1947–64), promoted a moralistic rhetoric attacking both the Soviet bloc and the U.S. and its bloc. Instead Nehru tried to build a nonaligned movement, paying special attention to the many new nations in theThird World released from European colonial status at this time. PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower and his Secretary of StateJohn Foster Dulles themselves used moralistic rhetoric to attack the evils of Communism.[66]
In 1959, Eisenhower became the first U.S. president to visit India to strengthen the staggering ties between the two nations. He was so supportive that theNew York Times remarked, "It did not seem to matter much whether Nehru had actually requested or been given a guarantee that the US would help India to meet further Chinese Communist aggression. What mattered was the obvious strengthening of Indian–American friendship to a point where no such guarantee was necessary."[67]
DuringJohn F. Kennedy's presidency from 1961 to 1963, India was considered a strategic partner and counterweight to the rise of Communist China. Kennedy said,[68]
"Chinese Communists have been moving ahead the last 10 years. India has been making some progress, but if India does not succeed with her 450 million people, if she can't make freedom work, then people around the world are going to determine, particularly in the underdeveloped world, that the only way they can develop their resources is through the Communist system."
Relations took a nosedive when Indiaannexed the Portuguese colony of Goa in 1961, in which theKennedy administration condemned the armed action of theIndian government and demanded that all Indian forces be unconditionally withdrawn from Goan soil, at the same time, cutting all foreign aid appropriation to India by 25 percent.[69] In response,Menon, now theMinister of Defence, lectured Kennedy on the importance of US-Soviet compromise and dismissed the admonishments of Kennedy andStevenson as "vestige(s) of Western imperialism".[70] TheKennedy administration openly supported India during the1962 Sino-Indian war and considered the Chinese action as "blatant Chinese Communist aggression against India".[71][72] TheUnited States Air Force flew in arms, ammunition and clothing supplies to the Indian troops and theUnited States Navy sent theUSSKitty Hawkaircraft carrier from thePacific Ocean to India, though it was recalled before it reached theBay of Bengal since the crisis had passed.[73][74] Kennedy insisted that Washington defend India as it would any ally, saying, "Weshould defend India, and therefore wewill defend India."[75][76]
Following theassassination of Kennedy in 1963, India-US relations deteriorated gradually. While Kennedy's successorLyndon B. Johnson sought to maintain relations with India to counter Communist China, he also sought to strengthen ties with Pakistan with the hopes of easing tensions with China and weakening India's growing military buildup as well.[77] Relations then hit an all-time low under theNixon administration in the early 1970s.Nixon shifted away from the neutral stance which his predecessors had taken towards India-Pakistan hostilities. He established a very close relationship with Pakistan, aiding it militarily and economically, as India, now under the leadership ofIndira Gandhi, was leaning towards Soviet Union. He considered Pakistan as a very important ally to counter Soviet influence in the Indian subcontinent and establish ties with China, with whom Pakistan was very close.[78] During the1971 Indo-Pakistani War, the US openly supported Pakistan and deployed its aircraft carrierUSSEnterprise towards the Bay of Bengal, which was seen as a show of force by the US in support of theWest Pakistani forces.[79] Later in 1974, India conducted its first nuclear test,Smiling Buddha, which was opposed by the US, however it also concluded that the test did not violate any agreement.[80][81]
In the late 1970s, with theJanata Party leaderMorarji Desai becoming the prime minister, India improved its relations with the US, led byJimmy Carter, despite the latter signing an order in 1978 barring nuclear material from being exported to India due to India's non-proliferation record.[82]
Despite the return of Indira Gandhi to power in 1980, the relations between the two countries continued to improve gradually, although India did not support the United States in its role in theSoviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. Indian Foreign MinisterP. V. Narasimha Rao expressed "grave concern" over the United States's decision to "rearm" Pakistan; the two countries were working closely together to counter the Soviets in Afghanistan.[83] TheReagan administration led by US PresidentRonald Reagan provided limited assistance to India. India sounded out Washington on the purchase of a range of US defence technology. In 1984, Washington approved the supply of selected technology to India including gas turbines for naval frigates and engines for prototypes for India's light combat aircraft. There were also unpublicised transfers of technology, including the engagement of a US company, Continental Electronics, to design and build a new VLF communications station, which was commissioned in the late 1980s.[84]
UnderBill Clinton (President 1993–2001) andP. V. Narasimha Rao (Prime Minister 1991–1996) both sides mishandled relations, according to Arthur G. Rubinoff. Clinton simultaneously pressured India to liberalize its economy while criticizing New Delhi on human rights and nuclear issues. In the face of criticism from Washington and opposition at home, Indian leaders lost their enthusiasm for rapprochement and reverted to formalistic protocol over substantive diplomacy. The Brown Amendment that restored American aid to Pakistan in 1995 was an irritant. In returning to a Cold War style rhetoric, Indian parliamentarians and American congressmen demonstrated their unwillingness to establish a new relationship.[85][86]
Soon afterAtal Bihari Vajpayee became Indian prime minister, he authorisednuclear weapons testing atPokhran. The United States strongly condemned this testing, promised sanctions, and voted in favor of aUnited Nations Security Council resolution condemning the tests. PresidentBill Clinton imposedeconomic sanctions on India, including cutting off all military and economic aid, freezing loans by American banks to state-owned Indian companies, prohibiting loans to the Indian government for all except food purchases, prohibiting American aerospace technology and uranium exports to India, and requiring the US to oppose all loan requests by India to international lending agencies.[87] However, these sanctions proved ineffective – India was experiencing a strong economic rise, and its trade with the US only constituted a small portion of itsGDP. OnlyJapan joined the US in imposing direct sanctions, while most other nations continued to trade with India. The sanctions were soon lifted. Afterward, the Clinton administration and Prime Minister Vajpayee exchanged representatives to help rebuild relations.[88] In March 2000, Clinton visited India, undertaking bilateral and economic discussions with Vajpayee. This would mark the first U.S. presidential trip to India since 1978.[89] During the visit, theIndo-US Science & Technology Forum was established.[90]
Over the course of improved diplomatic relations with theBush administration, India agreed to allow close international monitoring of its nuclear weapons development, although it has refused to give up its current nuclear arsenal.[91] In 2004, the US decided to grantMajor non-NATO ally (MNNA) status to Pakistan. The US extended the MNNA strategic working relationship to India but the offer was turned down.[92][93] After theSeptember 11 attacks against the US in 2001, PresidentGeorge W. Bush collaborated closely with India in controlling and policing the strategically criticalIndian Ocean sea lanes from theSuez Canal toSingapore.[88]
During theGeorge W. Bush administration, relations between India and the United States blossomed, primarily over common concerns regarding growingIslamic extremism, energy security, and climate change.[94]George W. Bush commented, "India is a great example of democracy. It is very devout, has diverse religious heads, but everyone is comfortable about their religion. The world needs India".[95] JournalistFareed Zakaria, in his bookThe Post-American World, described Bush as "being the most pro-Indian president in American history."[96] According toRejaul Karim Laskar, a scholar of Indian foreign policy and ideologue of theIndian National Congress, the UPA (Indian governing coalition) rule has seen a "transformation in bilateral ties with the US", as a result of which the relations now covers "a wide range of issues, including high technology, space, education, agriculture, trade, clean energy, counter-terrorism, etc".[97]
After the December2004 tsunami, the US and Indian navies cooperated in search and rescue operations and in the reconstruction of affected areas.[98] Since 2004, Washington and New Delhi have been pursuing a "strategic partnership" that is based on shared values and generally convergent geopolitical interests. Numerous economic, security, and global initiatives, including plans for civilian nuclear cooperation, are underway. First launched in 2005, cooperation on nuclear weapons reversed three decades of American non-proliferation policy. Also in 2005, United States and India signed a ten-year defense framework agreement, with the goal of expanding bilateral security cooperation. The two countries engaged in numerous and unprecedented combined military exercises, and major US arms sales to India were concluded.[99] AfterHurricane Katrina, India donated $5 million to theAmerican Red Cross and sent two planeloads of relief supplies and materials to help.[100] The value of all bilateral trade tripled from 2004 to 2008 and continued to grow, while significant two-way investment also grows and flourishes.[101] In November 2010, PresidentBarack Obama visited India and addressed a joint session of theIndian Parliament,[102] where he backedIndia's bid for a permanent seat on theUnited Nations Security Council.[103]
In March 2009, theObama administration cleared the US$2.1 billion sale of eightP-8 Poseidons to India.[104] This deal, and the $5 billion agreement to provideBoeing C-17military transport aircraft andGeneral Electric F414 engines announced during Obama's November 2010 visit, made the US one of the top three military suppliers to India (after Israel and Russia).[105]
India, in July and November 2013, demanded that the U.S. respond to allegations that the Indian UN mission inNew York City and the Indian Embassy inWashington, D.C. had been targeted for spying.[106] A 2010 document leaked byEdward Snowden and published byThe Washington Post revealed that US intelligence agencies had been authorized to spy on the Indian Prime MinisterNarendra Modi (who was then thechief minister of Gujarat).[107][108]
WikiLeaks revelations that Western intelligence agencies have used foreign aid workers and staff at non-governmental organizations asnon-official cover prompted India to step-up the monitoring ofsatellite phones and movement of personnel working for humanitarian relief organisations and development aid agencies in the vicinity of sensitive locations.[109][110]
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According to some analysts,[who?] India–U.S. relations have been strained over the Obama administration's approach to Pakistan and the handling of theTaliban insurgency in Afghanistan.[111][112] India'sNational Security AdviserM. K. Narayanan criticized the Obama administration for linking theKashmir dispute to the instability in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and said that by doing so, President Obama was "barking up the wrong tree."[113]Foreign Policy in February 2009 also criticized Obama's approach toSouth Asia, saying that "India can be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem" in South Asia. It also suggested that India take a more proactive role in rebuildingAfghanistan, irrespective of the attitude of the Obama administration.[114]Bloomberg has also reported that, since the2008 Mumbai attacks, the public mood in India has been to pressure Pakistan more aggressively to take actions against the culprits behind the terrorist attack, and that this might reflect on the upcomingIndian general elections in May 2009. Consequently, the Obama administration may have found itself at odds with India's rigid stance against terrorism.[115]
In the early 2010s, India and US governments have differed on a variety of regional issues ranging from America'smilitary relations with Pakistan and India'smilitary relations with Russia to foreign policy disagreements relating to Iran, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar and Bangladesh.[116][117]
India criticized the Obama administration's decision to limitH-1B (temporary) visas, and India's then External Affairs MinisterPranab Mukherjee (later, thepresident of India until 2017) said that India would oppose US "protectionism" at various international forums.[118] India's Commerce MinisterKamal Nath said that India may move against Obama's outsourcing policies at theWorld Trade Organization.[119] In May 2009, Obama reiterated his anti-outsourcing views and criticized the current US tax policy "that says you should pay lower taxes if you create a job in Bangalore, India, than if you create one in Buffalo, New York."[120] However, during the US India Business Council meeting in June 2009,U.S. Secretary of StateHillary Clinton advocated for stronger economic ties between India and the United States.[121]
In June 2010, the United States and India formally re-engaged the US-India Strategic Dialogue initiated under President Bush when a large delegation of high-ranking Indian officials, led by External Affairs MinisterS. M. Krishna, visitedWashington, D.C. As leader of the US delegation, Secretary of State Clinton lauded India as "an indispensable partner and a trusted friend".[122] President Obama appeared briefly at aUnited States Department of State reception to declare his firm belief that America's relationship with India "will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century."[123] The Strategic Dialogue produced a joint statement in which the two countries pledged to "deepen people-to-people, business-to-business, and government-to-government linkages ... for the mutual benefit of both countries and for the promotion of global peace, stability, economic growth and prosperity."[124] It outlined extensive bilateral initiatives in ten key areas, covering a wide range of security-related, economic, and societal topics.[125]
In November 2010, Obama became the second US president (afterRichard Nixon in 1969) to undertake a visit to India in his first term in office. On November 8, Obama also became the second US president (after Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959) to ever address ajoint session of theParliament of India. In a major policy shift, Obama declared US support for India'spermanent membership on the UN Security Council.[126][127] He also announced the removal of export control restrictions on several Indian companies, and concluded trade deals worth $10 billion, which are expected to create and/or support 50,000 jobs in the US.[128]
In December 2013,Devyani Khobragade, the Deputy Consul General ofIndia in New York, was arrested and accused by U.S. federal prosecutors of submitting false work visa documents and paying her housekeeper "far less than theminimum legal wage."[129] The ensuing incident caused protests from the Indian government and a rift in relations, with outrage expressed that Khobragade wasstrip-searched and held in the general inmate population.[129] Former Prime MinisterManmohan Singh said that Khobragade's treatment was "deplorable".[130]
India demanded an apology from the U.S. over her alleged "humiliation" and called for the charges to be dropped, which the U.S. declined to do.[131] The Indian government retaliated for what it viewed as the mistreatment of its consular official by revoking the ID cards and other privileges of U.S. consular personnel and their families in India and removing security barriers in front of theU.S. Embassy in New Delhi.[132] Nancy J. Powell, the U.S. ambassador to India, resigned following the incident, which was widely seen by India "as fallout from the imbroglio."[133] Within a year of the incident, U.S.-India relations were warming again, as U.S. President Obama visited India in January 2015.[133]
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India–United States relations have improved significantly during thePremiership of Narendra Modi since 2014.[134] At present, India and the US share an extensive and expanding cultural, strategic, military, and economic relationship[135][136][137] which is in the phase of implementingconfidence building measures (CBM) to overcome the legacy of trust deficit – brought about by adversarial US foreign policies[138][139] and multiple instances of technology denial[140][141][142] – which have plagued the relationship over several decades.[143]
Key recent developments include the rapid growth of India's economy, closer ties between the Indian and American industries especially in the Information and communications technology (ICT), engineering and medical sectors, an informalentente tomanage an increasingly assertiveChina, robust cooperation on counter-terrorism, the deterioration ofU.S.-Pakistan relations, easing of export controls over dual-use goods & technologies (99% of licenses applied for are now approved),[144] and reversal of long-standing American opposition to India's strategic program.
Income creation in the USA through knowledge-based employment by Asian Indians has outpaced every other ethnic group according to U.S. Census data.[145] Growing financial and political clout of the affluentAsian Indian diaspora is noteworthy. Indian American households are the most prosperous in the US with a median revenue of US$100,000 and are followed by Chinese Americans at US$65,000. The average household revenue in the USA is US$63,000.[146] The political influence of the large Indian-American community is reflected in the largest country-specific caucus in theUnited States Congress,[147] while between 2009 and 2010 more than 100,000 Indian students attended American colleges and universities.[148]
The 2014 State Department's annualTrafficking in Persons (TIP) report appeared to classify the Khobragade incident as an example of human trafficking, stating: "An Indian consular officer at the New York consulate was indicted in December 2013 for visa fraud related to her alleged exploitation of an Indian domestic worker."[149] In response, India has shown no urgency to allow visits to India by the newly appointed US anti-human trafficking ambassadorSusan P. Coppedge and the US special envoy for LGBT rights Randy Berry. UnderSection 377 of the Indian Penal Code homosexuality was illegal in India. Indian Ambassador to the US, Arun K. Singh reiterated India's commitment to work within an international framework to tackle the problem of trafficking but rejected any "unilateral assessments" by another country saying "We will never accept it" and downplayed the importance of the visits: "When you ask a U.S. official when somebody will be given a visa, they always say 'we will assess when visa is applied for.' ... I can do no better than to reiterate the U.S. position."[150]
In February 2016, the Obama administration notified the US Congress that it intended to provide Pakistan eight nuclear-capable F-16 fighters and assorted military goods including eightAN/APG-68(V)9 airborne radars and eight ALQ-211(V)9 electronic warfare suites[151][152] despite strong reservations from US lawmakers regarding the transfer of any nuclear weapons capable platforms to Pakistan.[153] The Indian Government summoned the US Ambassador to India to convey its disapproval regarding the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.[154]
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In February 2017, Indian ambassador to the U.S.Navtej Sarna hosted a reception for theNational Governors Association (NGA), which was attended by the Governors of 25 states and senior representatives of 3 more states. This was the first time such an event has occurred. Explaining the reason for the gathering, Virginia Governor and NGA ChairTerry McAuliffe stated that "We clearly understand the strategic importance of India, of India–U.S. relations. As we grow our 21st century economy, India has been so instrumental in helping us build our technology, medical professions. We recognise a country that has been such a close strategic ally of the US. That's why we the Governors are here tonight."[155]
In October 2018, India inked the historic agreement worth US$5.43 billion withRussia to procure fourS-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile defence system, one of the most powerfulmissile defence systems in the world ignoring America'sCAATSA act. The U.S. threatened India with sanctions over India's decision to buy the S-400 missile defense system from Russia.[156] The United States also threatened India with sanctions over India's decision to buyoil from Iran.[157] However, the Trump administration avoided sanctioning India for the Russian S-400 missile system, while sanctioning Turkey and China for the same purchases.[158]
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President Trump has grown closer to India'sBJP government, which shares the similarright-wing views, he has repeatedly praised Modi's leadership and avoided any negative criticism of the Indian government's actions on thecitizenship andKashmir disputes.[159][160] TheTrump administration is consistent with theModi administration in combating "radical Islamic terrorism",[161] and the US reiterates its support for India's elimination ofterrorist training camp in Pakistan.[162][163]
In early 2020, India provided its agreement for terminating an export embargo on a medicinal drug known ashydroxychloroquine amidst the combat against the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19)pandemic, after Trump threatened retaliation against India, if it did not comply with terminating the export embargo on hydroxychloroquine.[164][165]
On December 21, 2020, President of the United StatesDonald Trump awarded Modi with theLegion of Merit for elevating India–United States relations. The Legion of Merit was awarded to Modi along with Prime Minister of AustraliaScott Morrison and former Prime Minister of JapanShinzo Abe, the "original architects" of theQUAD.[166][167]
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US-India ties began to strain in April 2021 when India faced a massive spike inCOVID-19 infections. The US had invoked theDefense Production Act of 1950 toban the export of raw materials needed to produce vaccines in order to prioritize domestic vaccine production.[168] According toThe Times of India, this also caused an explosion of anti-US sentiment in India, as the U.S. had vaccine reserves and refused to share COVID-19 vaccine patents.[169] This came after a plea byAdar Poonawalla, CEO of theSerum Institute of India, to lift the embargo on export of raw materials needed to ramp up production of COVID-19 vaccines, was rejected.[165] However, in late April, right after a phone call withAjit Doval, theNational Security Advisor of India, the Biden administration stated it would make raw materials necessary for production of theOxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine available to India, and began to send more than₹714 crore (equivalent to₹801 crore or US$92 million in 2023) worth of drug treatments,rapid diagnostic tests,ventilators,personal protective equipment, and mechanical parts needed to manufacture vaccines to India, along with a team of public health experts from theUnited States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The US also stated that it planned to finance the expansion ofBiological E. Limited, an Indian-based COVID-19 vaccine production company.[170][171][172][173] India entered negotiations with the US after it declared that it would share 60 million Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines with the world.[174]
In a meeting of theQuadrilateral Security Dialogue on the implications of the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine for the region, President Biden noted India's abstention, saying that most global allies were united against Russia.[175] Speaking to theUS Senate Foreign Relations Committee, US diplomatDonald Lu said the Biden administration was still considering sanctions against India over its S-400 deal with Russia, and its abstention at the UN.[176] However, the Biden administration has ruled out secondary sanctions against India for its considerable oil imports or defence engagement from Russia.[158]
Although there are certain differences over theRussian invasion of Ukraine, the United States and India have strengthened cooperation in defense, semiconductors, critical minerals, space, climate, education, healthcare and other fields during theJoe Biden presidency.[177] Biden also called the ties with India "one of the defining relationships of the 21st Century".[178] Modi and Biden reiterated the call for concerted action against all groups identified by the United Nations as terrorist organisations, including Al-Qaeda, ISIS (Daesh), Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizb-ul-Mujhahideen (HuM). They also called out the Afghan Taliban authorities and Pakistan on the issue of terrorism.[179][180] The joint statement declared that the two countries have strong ties spanning "seas to stars".[181]
In November 2023, it has been reported that US authorities prevented a plot to assassinateGurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist leader of theKhalistan movement, within American borders.[182] Pannun has made threats to bomb theIndian Parliament andAir India flights, is now facing charges related to terrorist activities by India's NIA.[183] United States federal prosecutors have filed charges against Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, alleging his involvement in a conspiracy with an Indian government official to carry out the assassination of Pannun.[184] India has voiced apprehension over the connection of one of its government officials to the plot, distancing itself from the incident as it contradicts government policy.[185]
India rejected Trump's offer to mediateIndia-China tensions.[186]
On February 13, 2025, Indian Prime MinisterNarendra Modi became the fourth world leader to visit Donald Trump at the White House. During the meeting, Modi praised theMAGA movement.[187][188]
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The U.S. has four"foundational" agreements that it signs with its defence partners. The Pentagon describes the agreements as "routine instruments that the U.S. uses to promote military cooperation with partner-nations". American officials have stated that the agreements are not prerequisites for bilateral defence co-operation, but would make it simpler and more cost-effective to carry out activities such as refueling aircraft or ships in each other's countries and providing disaster relief.[189] The first of the four agreements, the General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), was signed by India and the U.S. in 2002. The agreement enables the sharing of military intelligence between the two countries and requires each country to protect the others' classified information.
The second agreement, the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), was signed by the two countries on August 29, 2016. The LEMOA permits the military of either country to use the others' bases for re-supplying or carrying out repairs. The agreement does not make the provision of logistical support binding on either country, and requires individual clearance for each request.[190] The third agreement, Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) was signed during the inaugural 2+2 dialogue in September 2018.[191] It is an India-specific variant of Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) that enables the two countries to share secure communication and exchange information on approved equipment during bilateral and multinational training exercises and operations. The fourth agreement, the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), signed in 2020, permits the exchange of unclassified and controlled unclassified geospatial products, topographical, nautical, and aeronautical data, products and services between India and the USNational Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).[192][188]
Harsh V. Pant, professor of International relations atKing's College London, highlighted the importance of India to US strategic planning by saying: "India is key to the US' ability to create a stablebalance of power in the larger Indo-Pacific and at a time of resource constraints, it needs partners like India to shore up its sagging credibility in the region in face of Chinese onslaught." Robert Boggs, professor of South Asia Studies at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, opines that the US "overestimates both India's desire to improve the relationship and the benefits doing so would bring".[193]
As part of America's policies to counter China,[194] one of the Trump administration policies are to make India as one of the major defence partners for which it is in talks with Indian representatives to sell highly technologically advanced predator drones.[195] India has floated a tender to buy 100 multi role fighter aircraft in theIndian MRCA competition (also called Mother of all defence deals), worth around US$15 billion underNarendra Modi'sMake in India initiative. Although the deal is yet to be finalised in 2018, the Trump administration pushed for sales of advancedF-16 jet fighters,[196] andF/A-18 Super Hornet.[197]
The Indian Army and US Army conducts an annual training practice called Yudh Abhyas since 2002.[198] In June 2015, US defence secretaryAshton Carter visited India and became the first American defence secretary to visit an Indian military command. In December of the same year,Manohar Parrikar became the first Indian defence minister to visit theUS Pacific Command.[199] In March 2016, India rejected a proposal by the US to join naval patrols in theSouth China Sea alongside Japan and Australia. Defense MinisterManohar Parrikar said: "India has never taken part in any joint patrol; we only do joint exercises. The question of joint patrol does not arise."[200][188]
In January 2017, Peter Lavoy, Senior Director for South Asian Affairs at theU.S. National Security Council, declared that the partnership between India and the United States under Barack Obama's administration had been "incredibly successful". Lavoy stated, "I can tell you quite definitively that due to our partnerships, several terrorism plots were foiled. Indian lives and American lives were saved because of this partnership."[201][202]
On October 27, 2020, the United States and India signed the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), enabling greater information-sharing and further defense cooperation, to counter China's growing military power in the region.[203] During the 2+2 ministerial dialogue the last agreement of four so-called "foundational agreements" for sharing sensitive information and sales of advanced military hardware.[204]
On August 16, 2022, US Air Force SecretaryFrank Kendall said that Indian defence attaché now has un-escorted access toThe Pentagon and he also added that this is commencement with our close relationship with India's status as a major defense partner," and future added that "And if you don't think un-escorted access to the Pentagon is a big deal, I can't get intoThe Pentagon without an escort,".[205]
During Modi's visit in 2023, the US and India agreed thatHindustan Aeronautics would jointly produceGE F-414 jet engines.[206] The two sides also reached an agreement to purchaseMQ-9B drones.[177]
In 2024, both signed two key agreements to strengthen their defense cooperation: the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA), which allows reciprocal priority support for defense-related goods and services, and a Memorandum of Agreement to post Indian Liaison Officers in key US Commands, starting with the US Special Operations Command.[207]
In 1998, India tested nuclear weapons which resulted in several U.S., Japanese, and European sanctions on India. India's then defence minister,George Fernandes, said that India'sprogram was necessary as it provided a deterrence to potential nuclear threats. Most of the sanctions imposed on India were removed by 2001. India has categorically stated that it will never use weapons first but will retaliate if attacked.
The economic sanctions imposed by the United States in response to India's nuclear tests in May 1998 appeared, at least initially, to seriously damage India-US relations. PresidentBill Clinton imposed wide-ranging sanctions pursuant to the1994 Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act. US sanctions on Indian entities involved in the nuclear industry and opposition to international financial institution loans for non-humanitarian assistance projects in India. The United States encouraged India to sign theComprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) immediately and without condition. The United States also called for restraint in missile and nuclear testing and deployment by both India and Pakistan. The non-proliferation dialogue initiated after the 1998 nuclear tests has bridged many of the gaps in understanding between the countries.
In late September 2001, President Bush lifted sanctions imposed under the terms of the 1994 Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act following India's nuclear tests in May 1998. A succession of non-proliferation dialogues bridged many of the gaps in understanding between the countries.
In December 2006, the US Congress passed the historic India–United States Civilian Nuclear Agreement|Henry J. Hyde US–India Peaceful Atomic Cooperation Act, which allows direct civilian nuclear commerce with India for the first time in 30 years. US policy had been opposed to nuclear cooperation with India in prior years because India had developed nuclear weapons against international conventions, and had never signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NNPT). The legislation clears the way for India to buy US nuclear reactors and fuel for civilian use.
TheIndia–United States Civil Nuclear Agreement also referred to as the "123 Agreement", signed on October 10, 2008, is a bilateral agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation which governs civil nuclear trade between American and Indian firms to participate in each other's civil nuclear energy sector.[208][209][188] For the agreement to be operational, nuclear vendors and operators must comply with India's 2010Nuclear Liability Act which stipulates that nuclear suppliers, contractors and operators must bear financial responsibility in case of an accident.
On March 27, 2019, India and the US signed an agreement to "strengthen bilateral security and civil nuclear cooperation" including the construction of six American nuclear reactors in India.[210]
India's contribution to theWar on Terror has helped India's diplomatic relations with several countries. Over the past few years, India has held numerous joint military exercises with United States and European nations that have resulted in a strengthened US-India and EU-India bilateral relationship. India's bilateral trade with Europe and US has more than doubled in the last five years.
However, India has not signed theCTBT, or theNuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, claiming the discriminatory nature of the treaty that allows the five declared nuclear countries of the world to keep their nuclear arsenal and develop it using computer simulation testing. Prior to its nuclear testing, India had pressed for a comprehensive destruction of nuclear weapons by all countries of the world in a time-bound frame. This was not favoured by the United States and by certain other countries. Presently, India has declared its policy of "no-first use of nuclear weapons" and the maintenance of a "credible nuclear deterrence". The USA, under PresidentGeorge W. Bush has also lifted most of its sanctions on India and has resumed military co-operation. Relations with USA have considerably improved in the recent years, with the two countries taking part in joint naval exercises off the coast of India and joint air exercises both in India as well as in the United States.[211][212][213]
India has been pushing for reforms in theUnited Nations and in theWorld Trade Organization with mixed results. India's candidature for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council is currently backed by several countries including Russia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Brazil, African Union nations and United States. In 2005, the United States signed a nuclear co-operation agreement with India even though the latter is not a part of theNuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The United States agreed that India's strong nuclear non-proliferation record made it an exception and persuaded otherNuclear Suppliers Group members to sign similar deals with India.
On March 2, 2006, India and the United States signed theIndo-US Nuclear Pact on co-operation in civilian nuclear field. This was signed during the four days state visit of USA President George Bush in India. On its part, India would separate its civilian and military nuclear programmes, and the civilian programmes would be brought under the safeguards ofInternational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The United States would sell India the reactor technologies and the nuclear fuel for setting up and upgrading its civilian nuclear programme. The US Congress needs to ratify this pact sinceUS federal law prohibits the trading of nuclear technologies and materials outside the framework of theNuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
The United States is one of India's largest direct investors. From 1991 to 2004, the stock of FDI inflow has increased from US$11 million to $344.4 million, and totaling $4.13 billion. This is a compound rate increase of 57.5 percent annually. Indian direct investments abroad began in 1992, and Indian corporations and registered partnership firms now can and do invest in businesses up to 100 percent of their net worth. India's largest outgoing investments are in the manufacturing sector, which accounts for 54.8 percent of the country's foreign investments. The second largest are in non-financial services (software development), accounting for 35.4 percent of investments. According to the data of the commerce ministry, in 2021–22, bilateral trade in goods between the two countries crossed $119.42 billion. Exports to the US increased to $76.11 billion in 2021-22 from $51.62 billion in previous fiscal year, while imports rose to $43.31 billion as compared to about $29 billion in 2020–21.[214] Tensions arose in 2025 as U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Indian goods, particularly pharmaceuticals, prompting negotiations to mitigate economic impacts.[215][216] Nearly half of all generic drugs in the U.S. came from India, with Indian generics saving $219 billion in healthcare costs in 2022 alone.[215]
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The United States is India'slargest trading partner since 2021,[214] and India is its7th largest trading partner.[217] In 2017, the US exported $25.7 billion worth of goods to India, and imported $48.6 billion worth of Indian goods.[218] Major items imported from India includeinformation technology services,textiles,machinery,gems anddiamonds,chemicals,iron andsteel products,coffee,tea, and other edible food products. Major American items imported by India includeaircraft,fertilisers,computer hardware,scrap metal, and medical equipment.[219][220]
The United States is also India's largest investment partner, with a direct investment of $10 billion (accounting for 9 percent of total foreign investment). Americans have made notable foreign investments in the Asian country's power generation, telecommunications, ports, roads, petroleum exploration and processing, and mining industries.[220] American imports from India amounted to $46.6 billion or 2% of its overall imports, and 15.3% of India's overall exports in 2015. Major commodities exported from India to the US include[221][222]Gems,precious metals and coins,Pharmaceuticals,Oil,Machinery, Textiles (including knit & crochet),Organic chemicals,Vehicles, andIron orsteel products American exports to India amounted to $20.5 billion or 5.2% of India's overall imports in 2015. Major commodities exported from the US to India include:[223][224]Gems,precious metals and coins,Machinery,Electronic equipment, Medical equipment,Oil, Aircraft/spacecraft,Plastics,Organic chemicals,fruits andnuts.
In July 2005, President Bush and Prime MinisterManmohan Singh created a new programme called the Trade Policy Forum.[225] It is run by a representative from each nation. The United States Trade Representative wasRob Portman, and the Indian Commerce Secretary then-Minister of CommerceKamal Nath. The goal of the programme is to increase bilateral trade and investment flow. There are five main sub-divisions of the Trade Policy Forum, including The Agricultural Trade group, which has three main objectives: agreeing on terms that will allow India to export mangoes to the United States, permitting India's Agricultural and Process Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) to certify Indian products to the standards of theU.S. Department of Agriculture, and executing regulation procedures for approvingedible wax on fruit.
The goals of theTariff and Non-Tariff Barriers group include agreeing that insecticides manufactured by US companies can be sold throughout India. India had also agreed to cut special regulations on tradingcarbonated drinks, manymedicinal drugs, and lowering regulations on many imports that are not of an agricultural nature. Both nations have agreed to discuss improved facets of Indian regulation in the trade ofjewellery,computer parts,motorcycles,fertiliser, and those tariffs that affect American exporting ofboric acid. The group has also discussed matters such as those wishing to break into the accounting market,Indian companies gaining licenses for thetelecommunications industry, and setting policies regardingIndian media andbroadcasting markets. Other foci include the exchange of valuable information on recognizing different professional services, discussing the movement and positioning of people in developing industries, continuation of talks on financial services markets, limitation of equities, insurance, retail, joint investment in agricultural processing and transportation industries, and small business initiatives.
On August 3, 2018, India became the third Asian nation to be granted Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA-1) status by the United States. STA-1 enables the export of high-technology products in civil space and defence from the US to India.[226][227] On February 15, 2023, Air India announced an order of 470 jets, out of which 220 jets would be bought from Boeing and the other 250 from Airbus. This is one of the biggest aircraft orders in the commercial jet industry. The deal was acknowledged by both the POTUS and the PMO of India.[228] During Modi's visit in 2023, resolution of six of seven outstanding WTO disputes between the US and India through mutually agreed solutions, market access.[177]
| 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US exports to India | 2.5 | 3.7 | 19.2 | 21.5 | 21.6 | 25.6 | 33.2 | 34.2 | 27.1 | 39.8 | 46.9 | 40.3 |
| US imports from India | 3.2 | 10.7 | 29.5 | 44.8 | 46.0 | 48.5 | 54.2 | 57.9 | 51.3 | 73.3 | 85.5 | 83.7 |
| Trade balance | −0.7 | −7.0 | −10.3 | −24.4 | −24.4 | −22.9 | −21.1 | −23.7 | −24.2 | −33.5 | −38.6 | −43.3 |
On January 31, 2023, the US-India Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) met for the eighth time. The group is a collaboration of space agenciesISRO andNASA. The CSJWG has planned to launch The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission in 2024 which is expected to map Earth using two different radar frequencies to monitor resources like water, forests, and agriculture.[230]
In January 2023, the national security advisors of India and the U.S. announced the launch of the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). Under iCET, both sides will work together in the fields of artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, advanced wireless technology, space and semiconductor supply chain resilience.[231] India signed theArtemis Accords in 2023, joining 26 other countries working on exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. And NASA will provide advanced training to ISRO astronauts with the goal of launching a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024.[177]
The Indian diaspora significantly bolsters Indo-U.S. economic relations through key contributions in technology, entrepreneurship, and academia. Their presence in Silicon Valley and leadership roles in various sectors fosters innovation and collaboration, while their entrepreneurial ventures strengthen economic ties. Additionally, the diaspora serves as a vital link for investments between the two countries, and their involvement in education and research contributes to advancements in science and technology. Beyond economics, the diaspora's cultural initiatives promote understanding and dialogue, further enhancing the overall relationship between India and the U.S.[232]
India-U.S. relations grew strategically in the early 1960s, as the rise of the People's Republic of China worried policymakers in Washington, D.C.. The Chinese government's assertion inTibet, its role in theKorean War, and other such acts concerned Washington. As relations between India and China were heated during the late fifties, the Americans found a golden opportunity to take advantage of this situation to promote India as a counterweight to China.[233]
After theend of the Cold War, Indian and American interests converged in a number of areas, includingcounter-terrorism, promotion of democracy, counter-proliferation, freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean, and thebalance of power in Asia.[233] India emerged in the 21st century as increasingly vital to core US foreign policy interests. India, a dominant actor in its region, and the home of more than one billion citizens, is now often characterised as a nascent Great Power and an "indispensable partner" of the US, one that many analysts view as a potential counterweight to the growing clout ofChina.[234]
In a meeting between PresidentGeorge W. Bush and Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee in November 2001, the two leaders expressed a strong interest in transforming the US-India bilateral relationship. High-level meetings and concrete cooperation between the two countries increased during 2002 and 2003. In January 2004, the US and India launched the "Next Steps in Strategic Partnership" (NSSP), which was both a milestone in the transformation of the bilateral relationship and a blueprint for its further progress.[235] In July 2005, Bush hosted Prime MinisterManmohan Singh inWashington, D.C. The two leaders announced the successful completion of the NSSP, as well as other agreements which further enhanced cooperation in the areas of civil nuclear, civil space, and high-technology commerce. Other initiatives announced included a US-India economic dialogue, the fight AgainstHIV/AIDS, disaster relief, technology cooperation, an agriculture knowledge initiative, a trade policy forum, energy dialogue, CEO Forum, and an initiative to assist each other in furthering democracy and freedom.[236] President Bush made a reciprocal visit to India in March 2006, during which the progress of these initiatives were reviewed, and new initiatives were launched.[237]
As the world's oldest and largest democracies, respectively, the U.S. and India share historic ties.[238] India is a founding member of the "Community of Democracies"—a prominent endeavor of the United States on promotion of democracy. However, India rejected a suggestion by the USA about setting up a Centre for Asian Democracy.[239]
Indian Prime MinisterManmohan Singh was the guest of honour at the first state dinner of the administration of US PresidentBarack Obama, which took place on November 24, 2009. Obama latervisited India from November 6–9, 2010, signing numerous trade and defence agreements with India. He addressed the joint session of theIndian parliament in New Delhi, becoming only the second US president to do so, and announced that the United States would lend its support toIndia's bid for a permanent seat in theUnited Nations Security Council, signifying the growing strategic dimension of the relationship between the world's two largest democracies.[240]
In 2016, India and the United States signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement[241][242] and India was declared a Major Defense Partner of the United States.[19] During US President Trump's visit to India in 2020, both sides agree to establish "Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership".[243]
In both the2017 Doklam standoff and the2020–2021 China–India skirmishes, the United States provided India with intelligence it possessed, and the two sides discussed the crisis on Ladakh border. The US was also involved in securing the release of Indian pilotAbhinandan Varthaman from Pakistani custody following the2019 Balakot airstrike.[244] The US played a role in extinguishing tensions between India and Pakistan in 2019, when Pakistan and India were at the verge of nuclear war, as per the claim of former US secretary of stateMike Pompeo.[245]
The strategic meetings between both countries is called the '2+2' dialogue. Representatives holding Foreign and Defense portfolios, from each of the two countries participate in this meeting. The inaugural 2+2 dialogue between the two nations took place in September 2018 during the Trump Administration. The meeting involved the foreign ministerSushma Swaraj and then Defence MinisterNirmala Sitharaman representing India, while Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Secretary of DefenceJames Mattis represented the United States. Some of the important agreements like Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) (2018) were signed in these meetings.[246]
On October 27, 2020, US and India signed a military agreement on sharing sensitive satellite data. The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement, or BECA, allows the US's strategic partners to access a range of sensitive geospatial and aeronautical data which is useful for military actions.[247] In December 2020, US India Business Council presidentNisha Desai Biswal claimed that the ties between the two nations will continue and grow stronger in 2021, as the Biden administration will prioritize their trade deals for a prospering economic relationship.[248] In December 2022, based on BECA, the United States provided real-time location information of thePLA soldiers to helpIndia rout China, during the confrontation inArunachal Pradesh.[249]
USChairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffMike Mullen encouraged stronger military ties between the two nations, and said that "India has emerged as an increasingly important strategic partner [of the US]".[250] US Undersecretary of StateWilliam J. Burns also said, "Never has there been a moment when India and America mattered more to each other."[251]
India and the United States have held two "India-US Dialogue on Africa" sessions as of 2024.[252]
In the 21st century, India-United States cooperation has aimed tocontain China in Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific with the help of broader organizations, such as theQuad which includes Japan and Australia.[253][188] In 2009,Robert Blake,Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, dismissed any concerns over a rift with India regarding AmericanAf-Pak policy in South Asia. Calling India and the United States "natural allies".[254] However, American ties with Pakistan and Bangladesh have sometimes clashed with India's military and political preferences in its neighborhood.[255][256][257]
Both Canada and the United States allege that the Indian government ordered assassinations onSikh separatists who were their citizens. Regarding the 2023Canada–India diplomatic row on this matter, State Department spokesmanMatthew Miller said in October 2024 that "We wanted to see the government of India cooperate with Canada in its investigation. Obviously, they have not; they have chosen an alternate path."[258]
During the Biden administration and the start of theRussian invasion of Ukraine, there were initially significant tensions regarding India's ties with Russia. However, the second Trump administration is anticipated to seek a quick end to the conflict, likely reducing India's distance from the United States on European security issues.[259]
The Indian-American diaspora, numbering over 4.5 million in 2025, strengthens cultural and educational exchanges. Student and tech worker visas remain a key focus, with thousands of Indian professionals contributing to the U.S. economy.[188]
Indian films have become more popular in the United States in recent years. American movies likeMississippi Masala paved the way for discussing race relations between Indian Americans and other racial groups in earlier decades, while Indian films likeRRR found unprecedented success in the 21st century.[260]
Hollywood movies are also becoming more popular in India, with the country emerging as one of the top ten or even five highest-grossing destinations for American films.[261]
Yoga and meditation have been notable exports from India to the United States.Swami Vivekananda played a significant role in introducing several of these aspects of Indian spirituality at the turn of the 20th century.[262][263]
American music first came to India at the turn of the 20th century, mediated to some extent through Britain and involving a significant amount of African Americanjazz music.[264]
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TheYMCA played a role in bringingWestern physical culture and ideas aroundMuscular Christianity to British India, while also shaping the development ofmodern yoga.Harry Crowe Buck was one of the major proponents at the time.[265][266][267]
Cricket was initially spread to both the United States and India during the British Empire. However, the United States drifted toward baseball, a fellow bat-and-ball sport, after its 1860sCivil War.[268] In the 21st century, Indian Americans and their investments have partially revivedcricket in the United States, helping to launchMajor League Cricket and the rise ofT20 cricket.[269][270]
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This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research AgencyDespite keen attention to Pakistan's potential strategic significance, most US planners rated India as far the more valuable diplomatic prize. American policy towards the subcontinent consequently leaned in favour of India throughout the late-1940s. The opening of bilateral relations with New Delhi andKarachi and the reasons for the initial Truman administration tilt toward the former will be explored in the next chapter.
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