France
USA
Relations components
- USA as india’s top export destination
- US extradited 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana to India
- Quad to counter China in Indo Pacific
- Energy Security
- India US Civil Nuclear Agreement 2008
- Critical Minerals Partnernship (eg. Pax Silica)
- iCET 2023
- NISAR
- Artemis Accord
- USA-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) 2021
- Defence: LEMOA 2016
- India is USA’s Major defence partner , with STA-1 status
- USA backs India’s UNSC permanent seat, NSG & IEA membership
Issues
- reciprocal tariff under Section 301
- Geopolitical divergence: avoiding militarizing Quad, stance on Russia-Ukraine war
- USA close ties with Pakistan post Sindoor
- USA sanction on India’s S400 purchase from Russia
- Tightening of H-1B visa, deportation of illegal Indian immigrants
- limited tech transfer from USA
- eg. stalled GE F-414 engine deal
- USCIRF concern over CAA seen as interference in Indian affairs
Way Forwards
- bilateral trade agreements
- H-1B visa easing
- CAATSA waiver
- USA should avoid interference in Indian internal matters
- deepen tech/ai cooperation eg. US-India Roadmap under TRUST initiative
Diversifying our niche
- relying on China + 1 or USA-China rivalry to get diplomatic leverage won’t work
- India must provide value, in technology, defence, cooperation to attract good diplomatic ties with USA