India-US Relations

India-US relations
Political, Economic and Strategic Relations

US established diplomatic relations with India
immediately after India’s independence. During
the cold war period India followed a non-aligned
policy so Indo-US relation was not a strong
relation. On October 13, 1949 Prime Minister
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru meets with U.S.
president Harry S. Truman on a multi-week
tour of the United States but no major
improvement in relations.
Indo-China war and US support
Washington supports India in the conflict,
recognizing the McMahon line as the border, and
provides air assistance and arms. Until the 1965
India-Pakistan War, strategic and military ties
between Washington and Delhi remain close.
USA supported Pakistan Indo-pak war 1965 and
India-Pakistan War 1971.In 1971 war
despite evidence of the Pakistan Army’s
violence against its own citizens in East Pakistan,
the United States sides with Islamabad.
After the assassination of Kennedy in 1963, India-
US relations deteriorated gradually
Relations turned all-time low under the Nixon
administration in the early 1970s
Nixon (1969-74) shifted away from the neutral
stance in India –Pak relations to a very close
relationship with Pakistan, aiding it militarily and
economically.
May 18, 1974 India completes first nuclear test
(Smiling Buddha). The move contributes to a
period of estrangement between the United
States and India that lasts over two decades.
From 1977 to 79 with the Janata
Party leader Morarji Desai becoming the Prime
Minister, India improved its relations with the
US, led by Jimmy Carter.
In 1978 The Carter administration enacts the
Nuclear Non-proliferation Act, which requires
countries not included in the Non-
proliferation Treaty—which includes India—
to allow inspections of all nuclear facilities by
the International Atomic Energy Agency. India
refuses, and Washington ends all nuclear
assistance to Delhi.
In 1980 Indira Gandhi again in power, not
much improvement in relations.
India always expressed concerned about the
US arms trade with Pakistan.
The Reagan (1981-89) Administration led by US
President Ronald Reagan provided limited
assistance to India.
But there some sort of technological transfer.
(gas turbines for naval frigates and engines for
prototypes for India's light combat aircraft)
A toxic gas and chemical leak at American-
owned Union Carbide Pesticide Plant in Bhopal,
India, kills thousands harm India-US relations
(December 1984)
July 24, 1991 India launches economic reforms.
Rao launches sweeping economic reforms that
help expand economic ties with the United
States.
May 11, 1998, India tests nuclear devices: The
tests draw international condemnation and
badly damage India’s relationship with the
United States. After recalling the U.S.
ambassador to India, President Bill Clinton
imposes economic sanctions.
During the period of Bill Clinton (President
1993–2001) and P. V. Narasimha Rao not much
improvement in relations.
US President visit in India March 2000
President Bill Clinton makes the first

U.S. presidential trip to India since
1978. The visit ends the estrangement
of the post-1998 Indian nuclear
weapons tests, and this visit was
marked with shift in US regional
orientation and its relation with
Pakistan. In September 22, 2001 U.S.
lifts India sanctions
India- US defence framework
The signing of ‘New Framework for India-U.S.

Defense Relations’ in 28 June 2005 and the resulting
intensification in
defence trade,
joint exercises,
personnel exchanges,
collaboration and cooperation in maritime security
and counter-piracy,
and exchanges between each of the three services.
The Defence Framework Agreement was updated
and renewed for another 10 years in June 2015.
Joint participation in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise
Bilateral dialogue mechanisms in the field of defence include Defence
Policy Group (DPG),
Defence Joint Working Group (DJWG),
Defence Procurement and Production Group (DPPG),
Senior Technology Security Group (STSG),
Joint Technical Group (JTG),
Military Cooperation Group (MCG),
and Service-to-Service Executive Steering Groups (ESGs).
The agreements signed during the past one year include,
Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Association (LEMOA) signed in
August 2016,
Fuel Exchange Agreement signed in November 2015,
Technical Agreement (TA) on information sharing on White
(merchant) Shipping signed in May 2016 and the Information
Exchange Annexe (IEA) on Aircraft Carrier Technologies signed in June
2016.
In October, the two countries conduct
the largest naval exercise to date,
followed by major air and land
exercises.
July 18, 2005 Landmark Civil Nuclear
Deal Drafted
India and the United States ink
the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative,
a framework that lifts a three-decade
U.S. moratorium on nuclear energy
trade with India. Congress gives final
approval in October 2008.
President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh at a White House press conference.
Some of the first shipments of Indian
mangoes arrive in the United States,
ending an eighteen-year ban on
importing the fruit. The ban is lifted
as part of an agreement reached by
President Bush and Prime Minister
Singh in 2006 to double
trade between the countries within
three years. In response, India says it
will relax restrictions on importing
Harley-Davidson motorcycles from
the United States in 2007
Nuclear Energy Regulator and Indian Nuclear Trade
September 6, 2008 The Nuclear Suppliers

Group (NSG), an intergovernmental body that
sets guidelines for nuclear exports,
allows an exemption to its rules that permits
India to engage in nuclear trade for the first
time in three decades.
The waiver is approved following intense diplomatic
efforts by the Bush administration, dating back to
2005 when Washington and New Delhi signed the
Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative.
The bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement was
finalized in July 2007 and signed in October 2008.
During Prime Minister Modi's visit to the U.S. in
September 2014, the two sides set up a Contact
Group for advancing the full and timely
implementation of the India-U.S. Civil Nuclear
Cooperation Agreement, and to resolve pending
issues.
Secretary Rice and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee
shake hands at the State Department in Washington,
New Developments
April 2010 marked the U.S.-India Economic and
Financial Partnership.
June 2010 the United States and India formally
convene the first U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue.
2011 The United States and India sign
a Memorandum of Understanding in New Delhi to
promote closer cyber security cooperation.
In 2014 Modi makes his first visit to United States,
aiming to attract investment and firm up the U.S.-
India strategic partnership.
2016 Obama recognizes India as Major Defense
Partner
In 2019 the Trump administration
terminates India’s preferential trade status,
part of a program dating back to the 1970s
that allows products from developing
countries to enter the U.S. market duty free.
In February 2020 trump makes first visit to
India
In October 2020 the top U.S. and Indian
defense and foreign affairs officials sign an
intelligence-sharing agreement during the
third round of their two-plus-two dialogue.

India-US Relations

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

India-US Relations

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

India-US Relations

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

India-US relations

Political, Economic and Strategic Relations

President Bill Clinton makes the first

The signing of ‘New Framework for India-U.S.

September 6, 2008 The Nuclear Suppliers

You might also like