Indiaspora Executive Director Sanjeev Joshipura's latest on the evolution of US-India Relations.
A few years ago, I was quoted on CNBC India as saying that the United States and India would never be allies but would always be friends. Perhaps now, we can ask if being a friend is a much more important designation for India than being an ally. Perhaps friendship can have more value and flexibility for both nations as they grow closer and work together to solve complex, multi-dimensional and shared global problems, rather than worrying about cumbersome and formal alliances.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up his recent trip to the United States, one couldn’t help but wonder if the relationship is merely where it should be, or if it has now grown well beyond what was envisaged, as highlighted here by Indiaspora Board Member Arun Kumar. Prime Minister Modi, having now returned to India, can point to any number of metrics to show that India now plays a substantial economic and geopolitical role on the global stage, aided by a stronger and friendlier relationship with the United States. But India’s advancing position on the global rostrum brings with it expectations too, and as an engaged member of the global Indian diaspora, I am delighted to see India stepping up to the plate.
The Quad is for the moment, an informal grouping and not a treaty alliance, as I had highlighted in my previous post “Lingering Questions in advance of the Quad Summit.” Fortunately, Quad members, India, Australia, Japan, and the United States have built sufficient trust that they believe they can rely on each other. And they will need to. Challenges like climate change cannot be confronted without cooperation and collaboration from the world’s leading nations. Each of these four nations would face substantial consequences to their populations from climate change. They have a vested interest in working together and must find a way to succeed. All four nations are poised to capitalize on heavy investments in science and technology, and benefit from the subsequent technologies that emerge. The Quad Cancer Moonshot initiative demonstrates a continued willingness to cooperate on humanitarian efforts and save lives. India will provide much needed detection equipment and cervical cancer vaccines to countries in the Indo-Pacific.
What stood out to me was the optimism stemming from the growing US-India relationship. The United States is clearly showing the world how it feels about India. By advocating for India, along with other nations, to join the UN Security Council and make it more representative, the United States is acknowledging its confidence in India’s judgment to work towards achieving peace and security at a global level, a change which S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, called “the biggest foreign policy and strategic transformation of our lives.”
As the Biden administration completes its term, the Modi Government has conducted a substantial number of visits to the United States from high-ranking officials with their US counterparts in the last few weeks and months including External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. Upcoming trips to the US include visits from Minister of Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Reserve Bank of India Governor, Shaktikanta Das.
It is in each nation’s interest to work collaboratively in areas like energy. Investing in solar panels, electric buses, and other green technologies are common-sense policies for both countries, their citizens, and the world. India has joined the Minerals Security Finance Network at the urging of the US, designed to secure the raw materials needed for energy consumption. But what catches my attention is their joint investment in defense-specific technology. India’s designation as a “Major Defense Partner of the United States” isn’t simply a ceremonial title. The United States will help invest in a semiconductor manufacturing plant in Gujarat that will supply chips to US Armed Forces.
The United States and India have been working closely on defense for years, and this investment confirms that the relationship is strong. There are of course concerns which could adversely impact the relationship. Attempts to finalize an agreement on Totalisation will have to wait until after the US elections. The frosty relationship between India and Canada, on account of Canada accusing the Indian government of assassinating Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, could lead to more pressure from Canada on the US approach to India. India recently took great issue with the US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s report alleging increased abuse towards minorities. Recent political upheaval in Bangladesh is of substantial concern to neighboring India.
Perhaps the biggest concerns involve India’s relationships with both Russia and Iran. The US has taken a clear position supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia and has provided substantial financial and military aid to Israel, as it faces attacks from Iran. India relies on Iran for naval cooperation and India is the world’s third largest importer of oil. The current conflict could impact the price volatility of oil, and subsequently affect multiple facets of the Indian economy. Russia remains India’s largest arms supplier despite recent efforts to diversify its sourcing of weaponry.
The United States needs a counterbalance to China in the Indian Ocean. India is uniquely positioned to communicate with countries like Iran or Russia in a way that the United States cannot. Both the United States and India must remain mindful of these potential obstacles and nevertheless move forward with their plans. India and the United States can pursue their individual national interests while simultaneously advancing shared goals through strategic partnership.
It should be noted that the US-India relationship, and indeed the relationships of many countries around the world with India, are built upon a foundation of the 35 million globally dispersed Indian diaspora. As India continues to grow into a major force in global affairs, that growth benefits from the efforts of these diaspora members. At Indiaspora, our efforts are focused on leveraging the skills, knowledge and interests of the diaspora to be a force for good, by crafting programs around key pillars like Social Impact & Philanthropy, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and fostering global connections among diaspora members and India resident leaders. When recently addressing an arena full of Indian Americans in New York, Prime Minister Modi noted that they were the strongest “brand ambassadors” for India. “You have connected America with India and India with America. Your talent, skill, and commitment have no competition. You may have come across seven seas, but there is no ocean that is deep enough to keep India afar from you.”
Differences notwithstanding, it is difficult to feel anything other than optimism and confidence when one thinks of the future of the US-India relationship. Friendship between the two nations based on shared interests and solidified by mutual trust provides the flexibility for both countries to maneuver through politically sensitive minefields without being encumbered by the straitjacket of formal alliances. Consistent and intensified relationship strengthening efforts by the diaspora will remain crucial to the expansion and deepening of the broader bilateral relationship itself.
I would like to thank Indiaspora’s Marketing and Communications Manager Sameer Acharya for contributing to this post.