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Home , Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Brajesh Mishra, Manmohan Singh, Rajiv Gandhi

IN FOCUS_U.S.- Ties / COMMENT

ne cannot help but included these points: ton resolve to create a closer and qual- be amazed by just • Forge better overall ties with an itatively new relationship between In- how far the U.S.-In- emerging global power, and the world’s larg- dia and the United States.” ar k dia relationship has est nation in the making; Attached to that statement was a come in less than a • Give operational meaning to our second document on ‘Institutional Di- decade. It has been shared democratic values, and interest in alogue Between India and the United ran Velhan i a remarkable transformation in rela- strengthening evolving democracies; States’. Its purpose was to set out, in on: K i tions,O started under President Bill • Maximise our partnership with one detail, the architecture for this new re- Clinton, then accelerated under Geor- of the world’s largest economies, and one of lationship, including regular bilateral

Illustrat ge W. Bush, and now set to continue the world’s largest middle classes; summits between the two heads of its positive, upward trajectory under • Help move India toward the global government and annual policy ex- . In each case the in- non-proliferation mainstream; changes conducted by the Secretary of cumbent president has found a willing • Enhance our joint efforts on urgent State and External Affairs Minister; and able Indian prime minister to global issues: terrorism, narcotics, rights of Foreign Office consultations; a Joint partner with in this joint endeavour women and children; Working Group on Counter-terrorism; — from to Man- • Work together to deal with challenges an Indo-U.S. Financial and Economic mohan Singh. to regional stability; Forum, Indo-U.S. Commercial Dia- This transformation in relations • Team up to protect the global envi- logue, and Indo-U.S. Working Group has seen a turning point, a tipping ronment, with clean energy and other initia- on Trade; a Joint Consultative Group point, and now, in our view, it has tives where Indian leadership is essential; on Clean Energy and Environment; gone beyond the point of no return as • Join hands in the global campaign and an India-U.S. Science and Tech- Obama takes over as the 44th Presi- against polio, AIDS and other public health nology Forum. Such a network of in- dent of the United States. This trans- problems; stitutional ties were intended to mir- formation has also been an excellent • Upgrade our access to the world-class ror the arrangements the U.S. already — albeit all too infrequent — example Indian players in the vital area of informa- had in place with important allies in of policy continuity and bipartisanship tion technology; Europe and Asia, including . in U.S. foreign policy. • Boost our thriving and mutually The positive response to Clinton’s helpful links in education, culture and peo- five days in India, especially with the The Turning Point ple-to-people exchanges. Indian public, exceeded all expecta- In advance of President Clinton’s visit tions. Indeed his visit was so success- to India in March 2000, we were asked These ‘Ten Reasons’ became the ful that India’s National Security Ad- CONTINUITY by the to pull together a ‘talking points’ for President Clinton’s viser, Brajesh , would later say brief, one page paper, setting out the visit, the first by an American presi- that it represented the ‘turning point’ underlying rationale for the trip and dent in 22 years. They found their way in opening a new era in U.S.-India re- the new agenda envisioned with In- into his speech before the Indian Par- lations. dia. It was ambitious, reflecting the liament and the statement he signed Moreover, that visit, along with president’s often stated desire to see with Prime Minister Vajpayee, entitled: Prime Minister Vajpayee’s reciprocal IN CHANGE India become an important partner ‘India-U.S. Relations: A Vision for the visit to Washington just six months with the United States in the years 21st Century’. The first sentence read: later in September 2000, laid the foun- ahead. The paper entitled, ‘Ten Rea- “At the dawn of a new century, Prime dation for the next stage in the U.S.- sons Why We Need to Engage India’, Minister Vajpayee and President Clin- India relationship. Although many of From Clinton to Bush to Obama, there is a clear consensus among U.S. foreign policy strategists that India will be one of America’s most crucial partners in the 21st century.

BY KARL F. INDERFURTH and BRUCE O. RIEDEL

024 India & Global Affairs • January-February 2009 January-February 2009 • India & Global Affairs 025 IN FOCUS_U.S.-India Ties / COMMENT FP FP A A / E FF A J Photo: HEN P STE Photo:

Close rapport: A file photo of U.S. President George Bush and Indian Give and take: A file PM photo of former U.S. Presi- in Heiligendamm, dent exchanging Germany, during the the ‘Vision Statement’ with G8 Summit in 2007 former Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in

the Clinton Administration’s foreign at the White House. forming a U.S.-India HIV/AIDs Part- nounced by the two leaders. It was policy initiatives would be scuttled by The fact sheet issued by the White nership, disaster response (building on also the least expected. Bush told the incoming Bush Administration, House after the two leaders concluded the successful collaboration in provid- Singh that he was now prepared to the growing strategic partnership of their highly successful meeting was ing emergency assistance after the De- work to achieve full civil nuclear en- the U.S. and India proved not to be entitled ‘The United States and India: cember 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami), ergy cooperation and trade with India, one of them. In fact, it was expanded Strong Global Partners’. Eight major and space cooperation. despite over a quarter-century of dis- to include areas that had been virtu- initiatives were spelt out, several of The statement also called atten- agreements between the two countries ally off limits to the Clinton Adminis- which build on the America-India tion to the fact that the Prime Minis- over nuclear issues. tration — like military-to-military ties agenda envisioned and begun five ter’s visit coincided with the comple- That announcement signalled that — due to sanctions that were still in years earlier: tion of the Next Steps in Strategic a new era in U.S.-India cooperation effect following India’s 1998 nuclear Partnership (NSSP) initiative. Launched had begun. If President Clinton’s visit tests. • A U.S.-India Global Democracy Ini- in January 2004, the NSSP was de- represented the ‘turning point’ in the and, ultimately, successful. The over- The Obama Agenda tiative to Aid Developing Democracies was signed to clear away obstacles to closer relationship, the nuclear agreement whelming bipartisan support for the That is the relationship that the new The Tipping Point announced; U.S.-India cooperation on a ‘trinity’ of would represent the ‘tipping point’. civil nuclear agreement in the United American President inherits. A firm The first years of President Bush’s • A CEO Forum was established, an issues that had remained beyond the The task of finalising the civil States was evident in the votes in the foundation has been laid to reach its term in office were preoccupied by the advisory group comprised of top U.S. and grasp of previous U.S. administrations: nuclear cooperation deal would domi- U.S. House of Representatives and full potential. aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks Indian CEOs; dual-use, high technology transfers, ci- nate the U.S.-India agenda for the next Senate and the affirmative votes cast In his statements in the Senate on the United States, the war in Af- • A U.S.-India Knowledge Initiative vilian nuclear and civilian space coop- three years, involving not only the by both presidential candidates. This and on the presidential campaign trail, ghanistan, and his decision to go to on Agriculture was launched, focussed on eration. The ‘trinity’ would later be- two governments at the highest levels strong political support reflected the Obama made it abundantly clear that war in Iraq in March 2003. But by July promoting teaching, research and commercial come the ‘quartet’ with the inclusion but the International Atomic Energy consensus of American foreign policy he recognises the transformation that 2005, Bush was prepared to leave a linkages and a second ‘Green Revolution’. of missile defence cooperation. Agency (IAEA) and the 45-member strategists that India will be one of has taken place in U.S.-India relations lasting mark on U.S.-India relations The completion of the NSSP led (NSG). It America’s most crucial partners in the over the past two administrations and when he hosted Prime Minister Singh Other important steps dealt with to the most important initiative an- was a major diplomatic undertaking 21st century. that his administration will continue

The Clinton Era: Laying the foundation The BUSH decade: Consolidating ties FP FP A A 1998 1999 2000 2001 2005 2006 2007 2008 B /

CK / The U.S. makes a vital Clinton assures Clinton arrives in U.S. lifts sanctions Summit meeting Bush signs the India and the U.S. The U.S. Congress E LOE

B

N differentiation India that ‘concrete , the which it imposed between Manmohan enabling legislation announce the finalisa- approves the 123 BY between India, which steps will be taken’ to first U.S. presidential against India and SAUL Singh and George permitting full civilian tion of bilateral civil Agreement allowing RO it refers to as a ‘nuclear restore the Line of visit to India in 22 after their Bush signals the esta- nuclear cooperation nuclear cooperation India to purchase Photo:

Photo: democracy’, and Control between India years, to improve ties. tit-for-tat nuclear blishment of a global with India into law. agreement, also called nuclear fuel & technol- others, as rogue states. and Pakistan. tests in 1998. partnership between the 123 Agreement. ogy from America. the two democracies.

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HIGHLIGHTS

A firm foundation has been Another area for greater India and the U.S. should also Over the course of the past laid for U.S.-India relations to cooperation during an Obama cooperate in trying to stabilise Sri eight years, the U.S. and India reach its full potential as Obama Administration would be at the Lanka and , both of have moved from ‘estranged takes over as the 44th President regional level. which face internal political democracies’ to ‘engaged of the United States. difficulties. democracies’. India shares the U.S.’ interest During his presidential in a secure, stable and free Obama has said he will seek to In a letter sent to Obama campaign, Obama recognised the Afghanistan. This is one of support the initiatives by India and before his election, the Asia transformation that has taken Obama’s highest priorities. Pakistan and give them the full Society Task Force on India place in U.S.-India relations over backing of the U.S. proposed that America and India the past two administrations and The U.S. and India collabo- should widen their collaborative his presidency will continue the rated in trying to end the Maoist The new President is focus to include the range of positive, upward trajectory of insurgency in Nepal. committed to the goal of a world global issues facing the world these ties. without nuclear weapons. today.

the positive, upward trajectory of these common threats of the 21st century. poverty, which is why I will seek the ties. In a letter to Prime Minister Singh We are both victims of terrorist at- U.N.’s goal of halving extreme poverty in September, on the occasion of tacks on our soil, and our counter-ter- by 2015. We cannot allow the world’s Singh’s last trip to the U.S., he wrote: rorism partnership is based on a shared neediest to be left behind. “Deepening and broadening the friend- interest in defeating the forces of ex- “India has enormous potential to ship between our countries will be a tremism. Our common strategic inter- contribute to a shared, sustained glob- first order priority for me in the com- ests call for strengthening U.S.-India al economic growth. Our agenda ing years.” military cooperation. We share an in- should also include strengthening our During the campaign, Obama terest in democracy and the rule of economic relationship on a mutually spelt out how he would go about do- law, and can work to promote democ- beneficial basis. I would also like to ing that. Asked by Outlook in July, in racy and strengthen legal institutions see agriculture given a higher priority what areas he would like to see U.S.- in South Asia and beyond. We share in our relations, as India pursues its India relations grow, he said: “Across- an interest in combating global climate goal of a ‘Second Green Revolution’. I the-board would be the short answer.” change, and the U.S. and India can would like to see a ramp-up in higher Then he elaborated with several key both do more to lead the world in se- education collaboration in fields like examples, laying out a robust agenda curing a cleaner and more sustainable science, public health and information for the next stage in U.S.-India rela- energy future. I intend to increase en- technology.” tions, including on the need to join ergy cooperation with India so we can forces to combat terrorism which has together address the climate crisis that Regional Cooperation been tragically underscored by the re- threatens our planet. We share an in- Another area for greater cooperation cent attacks on : terest in combating the spread of dis- during an Obama Administration “I believe that the U.S. and India ease, including HIV/AIDS. And we should be at the regional level. India must work together to combat the share an interest in combating global shares the American interest in a se-

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cure, stable and free Afghanistan. This On Nuclear Partnership proposed the total elimination of nu- is one of the highest priorities of the In his letter to Prime Minister Singh, clear weapons, when he met with new President. We should work close- Obama also wrote that it was his hope at their summit at ly together to achieve these goals. The that the civilian nuclear agreement Reykjavik in 1986. Perhaps history will U.S. and India collaborated in trying ‘can open the door to greater collabo- find that Reagan and were just to end the Maoist insurgency in Nepal. ration with India on non-proliferation a little ahead of their time. Now we need to work together while issues. This subject will be one of my that country pursues a permanent highest priorities as President. I am A Note Of Caution peace. India and the U.S. should also committed to the goal of a world with- Over the course of the past eight years, cooperate in trying to stabilise Sri out nuclear weapons’. This proposal is the United States and India have

Lanka and Bangladesh, both of which gaining increasing attention and trac- moved from their oft-described rela- FP A face internal political difficulties. tion due to its advocacy for the past tionship of ‘estranged democracies’ to /

The toughest longstanding issue two years by four former high-ranking the now more appropriate description SLOAN

IM In a new light: in the South Asia neighbourhood re- U.S. officials — , of ‘engaged democracies’. This trans- T President-elect Barack Obama mains relations with Pakistan and try- George Shultz, William Perry and Sam formation, in our view, has progressed

Photo: waves while walking with ing to advance the nascent Indo-Paki- Nunn. beyond the point of no return. But outgoing President George W. stani dialogue. In recent years, this On this subject of a nuclear-free here a note of caution is worth mak- Bush at the White House dialogue has produced some move- world, Singh indicated in his speech ing. Like any allies, Washington and ment on normalising ties and confi- to the on September 26 New Delhi will continue to have dif- dence building measures, including that India would be a willing partner. ferences and disagreements. with respect to . Singh told the General Assembly that For example, during the U.S. de- The resumption of trade across the opening of international civil nu- bate in Congress over the civilian nu- now live up to its commitments under new directions in India’s foreign poli- and identify where our cooperation the after 60 years is an clear cooperation with India ‘is a vin- clear agreement, India was criticised the treaty — which is precisely the po- cy, including its intention to maintain can change the world — for example, important and significant step. The dication of India’s impeccable record by some for maintaining strong eco- sition the U.S. should ask and expect its own autonomy and independence, tackling AIDS in Africa through the two governments have also been en- on non-proliferation and to our long- nomic ties with Iran and for having India to take. despite the growing closeness in our combined strength of our scientists, gaged for some time in serious and standing commitment to nuclear disar- exchanges of low-level military delega- Some perspective is also useful relations. As our strategic partnership pharmaceutical industries and public purposeful exchanges on Kashmir, an- mament that is global, universal and tions. Some even suggested that the here. India’s military relations with Iran with New Delhi deepens in the com- health experts; or pursuing new solu- other encouraging sign. non-discriminatory in nature’. civilian nuclear deal should be held pale compared with its ties to Israel, ing years, both countries will need tions for agriculture, through research As President, Obama has said he Singh went on to say that the hostage to a break in Indian-Iranian with which it has a major arms rela- expertise in understanding the dy- as well as micro-insurance innova- will seek to support these initiatives blueprint for this was spelled out by relations. tionship, or its strong support for the namics of the external affairs of the tions; we could even focus our expert by India and Pakistan and give them former Indian prime minister Rajiv Those concerns needed to be placed Karzai Government in Afghanistan. In- other and diplomats with the skill to policy, finance and research commu- the full backing of the United States. Gandhi at the U.N. 20 years ago and in their proper context. New Delhi has deed as the war in Afghanistan becomes manage what will be one of the most nities on solutions for water scarcity, a He has also said he believes the right added: “I reiterate India’s proposal for historic ties to Iran and there is a great the central front for President Obama in important bilateral relations of the 21st looming problem for us all.” approach is for India and Pakistan to a Nuclear Weapons Convention pro- cultural affinity for Persia in India. India the struggle against al Qaeda’s terrorist century. “Dream big.” That should be the resolve the Kashmir dispute bilaterally, hibiting the development, production, also has the second largest Shia Muslim network (not Iraq), Washington should touchstone for the next stage in U.S.- taking into consideration the wishes of stockpiling and use of nuclear weap- population in the world after Iran. It work with India to stabilise Afghani- ‘Dream Big’ India relations. Indeed as the recent the Kashmiri people who have suf- ons and providing for their complete naturally does not want to be estranged stan and encourage cooperation be- In a letter sent to Senator Obama be- space collaboration between the two fered the most. elimination within a specified time from a major energy exporter. tween India and Pakistan. fore his election, the Asia Society Task countries on the Chandrayaan-I lunar In sum, as Obama told Outlook, frame.” But India also made it clear that it The case of Iran makes an impor- Force on India proposed that America mission demonstrates, even the old “The U.S. should be a strong supporter As Singh cited ’s call does not want to see Iran develop nu- tant point about the future direction and India should widen their collab- expression ‘the sky’s the limit’ should of this (dialogue) process, one that will, in 1988 for nuclear disarmament, Pres- clear weapons. It sided with the U.S. at of the United States-India relations. orative focus to include the range of no longer apply to the possibilities if ultimately successful, have enormous ident Obama will also have a U.S. two important IAEA votes on the Iran As these relations move forward, global issues facing the world today. that exist for what the United States benefits for both India and Pakistan, president of that era to cite in making issue. New Delhi takes the position Americans will need to have a more “We should dream big,” said the task and India can do together in the 21st and the region as a whole.” his case — Ronald Reagan. He also that Iran signed the NPT and must complex and complete grasp of the force, “establishing visionary goals, century. FP

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