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- New phase of relations between India and U.S. since the end of 90s. B. Clinton broke from the zero-sum game that characterized U.S. policy toward India and Pakistan. During the conflict in Kargil (1999) and border tensions in 2001/2002 U.S. supported India.G. Bush presided over an unprecedented simultaneous in U.S. relations with Pakistan and India, advancing both bilateral relationships on their individual merits. At the same time, U.S. policy has ended the mutual suspicion between New Delhi and Washington of each other’s intentions in the rest of the subcontinent.
- The basic changes in U.S.-India relations have been possible thanks to Washington’s acceptance of India’s exeptionalism. U.S. administration has addressed the exceptional nature of India’s rise. It is a breakthrough and has a significance impact. The second change in U.S. policy is strategic patience.
- India-U.S. relations has seen a transformation thanks to U.S. willingness to take a strategic view of India’s exceptionalism and its rise and recognition of the U.S.’s benefits in accommodating India in a new global order.
- India foreign policy is shifting from the emphasis on autonomy to an emphasis on responsibility. Such a transition will indeed take place on India’s own terms and timelines. That’s why U.S. will need large amounts of strategic patience.
- Unlike Japan, India will not cede its freedom for independent action and autonomy in international relations or to be tied down by an alliance that will be dominated by another power.
- U.S. has begun to understood India’s attitude and mentality. The idea that India must be treated exceptionally has been fundamental premise at the very source of Bush’s civil nuclear initiative. The second premise – patience is needed in dealing with India. The third premise – India will not fit into the traditional alliance structure of the kind Washington has had with its friends in Europe and Asia. U.S. policy is to support India without an exception of immediate returns and automatic reciprocity.
- Since 2005 U.S. and India has promoted the idea of democratic quad. It would be included Australia, Japan, India, and U.S. In September 2007 joint naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal.
- The U.S. has been quite happy to let New Delhi to engage in transformation in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, support India’s idea of closer economic cooperation in the region. But U.S. has been reluctant to talk India on future of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- The next problem: relations between India and Iran. In 2003 they establish strategic partnerships. India is interested in taking part in the joint project with Tehran and Islamabad. It is a gas pipeline. The Washington prefer the alternative, the pipeline from Turkmenistan to India, via Afghanistan or Iran. Besides, U.S. put stress that if India has nuclear agreement with U.S., so India doesn’t need agreement with Iran.
- The problem and tensions between U.S. and India are connected also with: U.S. policy toward Pakistan, U.S. attitude to the India’s candidate as a permanent member of Security Council, differences on the liberalizing agriculture sector and subsidies (talks on the World Trade Organization)
- Relations with China in the 90s have been improved. Two main factors: economics and terrorism. China and India want to prevent old rivalries, quarrels and mistrust interfering with their race to development. Both China and India try to downplay the border question and put it on back burner and emphasize more on economic cooperation. The trade between India and China reaches in 2008 over 40 billion US dollars. China is the main trading partner of India.
- But in 2007 border tensions, quarrel again. China also didn’t support India’s effort to become a permanent member of Security Council. Tensions and competition: Myanmar, Africa, security energy.
- India-Russia relations have improved since 2000 (before it was period of stagnation from the beginning of 90s.). Russia support India’s effort to become permanent member of Security Council. In 1998 it was idea of strategic triangular: India-China-Russia. This idea recovered again in 2005. The meetings of foreign ministers of these 3 countries. But only words, declaration, no action. The weakest side of India-Russia cooperation is economic cooperation. Trade is very low. But Russia is still main weapon and military supplier of India. The main common interest in Asia is prevent the rise of Islamic fundamentalist in Central Asia. But for the New Delhi main political partner in Asia is U.S.
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