India–US Strategic Partnership: Shifting American Perspectives on Engaging India

Abstract

India–US relationship oscillated unevenly due to the politics of the Cold War. Post-Cold War, both countries have taken gradual, positive steps towards each other. While President Bill Clinton established a tilt towards India during his second term, George Bush ushered a transformational shift in the relationship that led to the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership and eventually to the path-breaking Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. Since then relations have been steadily improving with the Obama presidency moving in the same direction. The joint incentives for New Delhi and Washington have ranged from counterterrorism, defence cooperation, cyber security, trade and economics, agriculture, education and science and technology cooperation. Apart from the interest of mutual gains, the relationship was further influenced by the enormous geopolitical changes unfolding in the region. The mutual concern over the ‘peaceful rise’ of China followed by its aggressive foreign policy and active military presence especially in the India Ocean region has created fresh opportunities to both. However, irrespective of the strategic potential of the relationship and the strong political will at both ends, Indo-US ties have their own share of irritants in several spheres. Recognizing the complex narrative of converging and diverging interests functioning under the ambit of strategic partnership, this article examines the constraints and imperatives, and the main determinants that drive the relationship in the post-9/11 era. Various triggers and catalysts in US’ internal policy process apart from the geopolitical factors that led to the growing engagement with India are examined.