UPSC: India USA Relations (Part 1)

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU11vR_HzyE&t=370s

Tracing History

1. 1949: Nehru visits USA; the trip precedes India’s formal proclamation of neutrality in the developing Cold War, in which it would take a leadership role within the Non-Alignment movement. This sets the tone for U.S.-India relations throughout the Cold War, creating constraints within the relationship, as well as opportunity for amity between Delhi and Moscow.

2. 1962: Nehru seeks support from USA against China; Washington supports India in the conflict, recognizing the McMahon line as the border, and provides air assistance and arms. Until the 1965 Inda-Pakistan War, strategic and military ties between Washington and Delhi remain close.

3. 1971: Bangladesh Liberation War; distance between India-USA increases; Despite evidence of the Pakistan Army’s violence against its own citizens in East Pakistan, the United States sides with Islamabad, given its mediating role in Nixon’s rapprochement with China. India also signs a twenty-year Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with the Soviet Union in August, sharply deviating from its previous position of non-alignment in the Cold War.

4. 1974: India Completes First Nuclear Test; India detonates its first nuclear device, becoming the first nation outside the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to have declared nuclear capabilities. The move contributes to a period of estrangement between the United States and India that lasts over two decades.

5. 1978: requires countries not included in the Nonproliferation 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.

6. 1984: Bhopal Leak: A toxic gas and chemical leak at American-owned Union Carbide Pesticide Plant in Bhopal, India, kills thousands. India unsuccessfully seeks extradition of the company’s chief executive from the United States for criminal prosecution as the death and disability toll climbs to the tens of thousands in the ensuing years. The incident harms U.S.-India relations, and continues to complicate the bilateral relationship years after.

7. 1991: Economic Reforms; help expand economic ties with the United States. Finance Minister Manmohan Singh oversees the opening of India’s economy to international trade and investment, deregulation, initiation of privatisation, tax reforms, and inflation controlling measures that catalyze decades of fast growth.

8. 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, required under U.S. law.

9. 1999: Pakistani forces infiltrate Indian-administered Kashmir. India launches air strikes in return, and armed conflict continues through early July. After President Clinton summons Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Washington for a Fourth of July emergency meeting, Sharif withdraws Pakistani forces from their positions beyond the Line of Control.

10. 2000: Clinton Trip Signals Warming Ties; 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, although the Clinton administration presses India’s government to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. The Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum is also established during the visit. As India’s economy begins to take off, the trip indicates a further shift in Washington’s regional orientation away from its Cold War alliance with Pakistan.

11. 2001: George W. Bush administration lifts all remaining U.S. sanctions [PDF] that were imposed on India after its 1998 nuclear test.

12. March 2005: Energy Security Dialogue: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits New Delhi, where she and Indian officials agree to start a dialogue on energy security. The visit underscores an upswing in relations despite tensions over India’s possible energy cooperation with Iran and the U.S. sale of fighter jets to Pakistan.

13. June 2005: U.S., India Sign New Defense Framework; The United States and India sign the New Framework for the U.S.-India Defense Relationship [PDF], which sets priorities for defense cooperation in maritime security, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, and counterterrorism. In October, the two countries conduct the largest naval exercise to date, followed by major air and land exercises.

14. July 2005: Landmark Civil Nuclear Deal; India and the United States ink the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative, a ten-year defense framework that lifts a three-decade U.S. moratorium on nuclear trade with India. Under the agreement, India agrees to separate its civil and military nuclear facilities and place all its civil resources under IAEA safeguards. In exchange, the United States agrees to work toward full civil nuclear cooperation with India. Congress gives final approval in October 2008.

The nuclear deal, completed in July 2007, makes India the only country outside of the Nonproliferation Treaty that has nuclear capabilities and is allowed to participate in nuclear commerce.

15. November 2008 Terrorist Attack: The United States cooperates closely with Indian authorities, sending FBI investigators and forensics experts.

16. April 2010: Economic and Financial Partnership: U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner makes his first official trip to India to launch the new U.S.-India Economic and Financial Partnership with Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The ministerial-level meetings kick off an effort to institutionalize deeper bilateral relations on economic and financial sector issues.

17. June 2010: U.S., India Hold First Strategic Dialogue: The United States and India formally convene the firstU.S.-India Strategic Dialogue. A large, high-ranking delegation of Indian officials visits Washington, DC, and Secretary Clinton lauds India as “an indispensable partner.” President Obama says the relationship “will be a defining partnership in the twenty-first century.” Subsequent dialogues follow annually.

18. November 2010: Obama Backs India Bid for UN Security Council; President Obama visits India, where he addresses Parliament and backs the country’s long-held bid for apermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. The trip also highlights the countries’ economic ties, with Obama announcing $14.9 billion in trade deals. However, trade concerns around access to Indian markets and issues surrounding civil nuclear cooperation cloud the talks.

19. 2011: U.S., India Ink Cybersecurity Memorandum; The United States and India sign a Memorandum of Understanding in New Delhi to promote closer cybersecurity cooperation. The agreement is designed to fulfill one of the pillars of the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue.

20. March 2014: Diplomatic Row Sours Ties; The U.S. embassy in India announces Ambassador Nancy Powell’s resignation in the wake of a dispute over the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York.

21. May 2014: Obama Invites Modi to U.S.

22. September 2014: Modi’s high profile UA Visit; Modi and President Obama reach agreement on a memorandum of understanding between the Export-Import Bank and an Indian energy agency, which provides up to $1 billion to help India develop low-carbon energy alternatives and aid U.S. renewable energy exports to India.

23. January 2015: Obama's Second India Visit Elevates Ties; U.S. President Barack Obama makes his second visit to India as head of state for India's Republic Day celebrations. The president heralds the relationship between the world's two largest democracies, saying, "America can be India's best partner." Obama and Indian PM Modi announce a breakthrough on nuclear-related issues that could help implement the U.S.-India civil nuclear deal. Six months later, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and India’s defense minister, Manohar Parrikar, sign documents to renew the ten-year U.S.-India Defense Framework Agreement.

India-U.S. Delhi Declaration of Friendship 

"Chalein saath saath; forward together we go”. Reflecting the close ties between our two great democracies, India and the United States agree to elevate our long-standing strategic partnership, with a Declaration of Friendship that strengthens and expands the relationship between our two countries

"Sanjha Prayaas, SabkaVikaas; Shared Effort, Progress For All”. Each step we take to strengthen the relationship is a step towards shaping international security, regional and global peace, prosperity and stability for years to come.

Through this Declaration of Friendship and in keeping with our national principles and laws, we respect:

• Equal opportunity for all our people through democracy, effective governance, and fundamental freedoms;
• An open, just, sustainable, and inclusive rule-based global order;
• The importance of strengthened bilateral defense ties;
• The importance of adapting to and mitigating the impact of climate change through national, bilateral and multilateral efforts;
• The beneficial impact that sustainable, inclusive development will have on our two countries and the world;
• The centrality of economic policies that support the creation of strong and sustainable jobs, inclusive development, and rising incomes; and
• Transparent and rule-based markets that seek to drive the trade and investment necessary to uplift all members of society and promote economic development.
  
  As part of this Declaration of Friendship, we commit to:
• Hold regular Summits with increased periodicity;
• Elevate the , of which the Strategic elements would continue to be chaired by the External Affairs Minister of India and the U.S. Secretary of State and the Commercial components of the Dialogue would be led by India’s Minister of Trade and Commerce and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. This reflects the United States' and India's commitment to strengthen commercial and economic ties to advance mutual prosperity, regional economic growth and stability;
• Establish secure hotlines between the Prime Minister of India and the President of the United States of America and National Security Advisors;
• Cooperate to develop joint ventures on strategically significant projects;
• Build meaningful security and effective counterterrorism cooperation;
• Hold regional and multilateral consultations;
• Consult and hold regular consultations in multilateral forums; and
• Leverage the talents and strengths of our people to enhance sustainable, inclusive development around the globe.