Kanishak KatariaAIR 1 · CSE 2018 · 282 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening
India-US ties have seen the ebbs & flows over the years ever since India decided to opt for Non-Alignment Movement during the cold war. Significant efforts over the years have seen the relations improve over time although many small divergences still remain.
Body · points
PROGRESSIVE TIES:
Defence -
- India procuring arms from the US
- US giving STA-1 status to India - the only non-NATO country to get this.
- Joint exercises like Malabar & Vajra Prahar
Economy -
- India purchasing oil from the US 1st shipments arriving in 2017-18.
- US foreign investments in India.
Strategy
- Cooperation in Indo-Pacific, Quad groupings
- US calling India a key partner in Afghan peace process & asking for increased role in preventing terrorism
- Nuclear Deal in 2008
Others
- Technological exchanges.
- US supporting India in NSG.
DIVERGENCE IN TIES
- India not agreeing to US demands regarding Iran ties
- US H-1B visa policy hurting Indian workers
- challenges at WTO over solar import duty, food grain subsidy
- Indian engagement with Russia in S400-Triumf deal.
- on & off relations between US & Pakistan giving mixed signals to India.
- capriciousness of Donald Trump administration
Close · a way forward
While the improvements over the years have been manifold, India needs to be aware of the ground realities that US is ceding space & India can't afford the Russia - China - Pakistan trilateral to get the ascendancy in order to safeguard its long term security.
While many decisions of the US are economically motivated like reducing the trade deficit, it is important for India to stick to its erstwhile non-alignment to any particular grouping & carve its own strategic autonomy.
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