President Donald Trump’s imposition of heavy tariffs on Indian imports has caused serious tension in India-US relations. However, former senior officials of the Joe Biden administration believe that these relations can be strengthened again and it is also necessary to do so, so that the US does not lag behind China in the field of technological innovation.
Former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell wrote in a joint article in Foreign Affairs that the partnership between Washington and New Delhi has the support of both major political parties in the US, and it has played a big role in stopping China’s aggressive policies in the Indo-Pacific region.
They also said that US allies will have to explain to India that Trump’s political style often hides the role of bargaining.
Sullivan and Campbell pointed out that “tariffs, Russian oil purchases, and renewed tensions regarding Pakistan have caused a rapid and regrettable downturn in the US-Indian relationship, replete with public insults and recriminations”, and were “prudent to remember why India has emerged over the last generation as one of the United States’ most important global partners.” They said that if the current situation continued, Washington could lose a key strategic ally.
They point out that Prime Minister Modi’s recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the SCO summit indicates that if ignored, India could move closer to America’s adversaries.
The article also warns that India could be caught in a difficult situation – on the one hand an aggressive China on the border, and on the other hand strained relations with the US in the fields of technology, education and defense.
Therefore, both countries should adopt a new, strong and constructive strategy rather than just restoring the old situation.
The article also reminded that several US presidents in the past have made concrete efforts to strengthen partnership with India, such as the historic civil nuclear deal between George Bush and Manmohan Singh, and more recently under Biden and Modi, cooperation in areas such as AI, biotechnology and aerospace.
Views on Indo-Pak policy
Sullivan and Campbell made it clear that the US should avoid hyphenating relations with India and Pakistan. The US should not have a joint “Indo-Pak policy”.
They said that the US has an interest in curbing terrorism and limiting arms proliferation in Pakistan, but these concerns are less important than America’s long-term and broader interests with India.
The comments come at a time when President Trump took credit for the recent Indo-Pak ceasefire, while India denied it.
Relations between the US and Pakistan have warmed in recent days, with Trump welcoming Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir to the White House and discussing trade, economic development and cryptocurrency. Days later, the US announced a trade deal with Pakistan and promised to help develop its oil wealth, while imposing a 25 per cent duty on Indian products.
Five pillars of a future partnership
The article suggests that a new strategic partnership between the US and India could be established as a formal treaty, approved by the US Senate.
This partnership would be based on five main pillars, aimed at promoting the shared security, prosperity and democratic values of the two countries.
Under this, the two countries should create a ten-year action plan, outlining technological partnerships in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, biotech, quantum technology, clean energy, telecom and aerospace.
According to the authors, these are the areas that will determine the global balance of power in the times to come.
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