IN the State of the Union address to the US Congress, the US President is meant to list his administration’s accomplishments and paint a vision for the year ahead. In his third and last address before the November presidential elections, President Joe Biden said he wanted competition with China, but not conflict and claimed it was in a stronger position to win the competition for the 21st Century against Beijing. More importantly, he underscored the significance of strengthening ties with key allies, like India, amid the Chinese challenge.
The US is standing up against China’s unfair economic practices, for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and for revitalising its partnership with allies, like India, Biden said. His commitment to confronting China’s unfair economic practices and ensuring a level-playing field in global trade highlights the strategic importance of the India-US relations.
India is a critical player in the US scheme of things. Enhanced defence cooperation between the two countries, including joint military exercises and technology transfers, serves as a deterrent against aggression and helps promote stability in the Indo-Pacific region, which is witnessing geopolitical tensions, particularly in Taiwan. By reinforcing their shared values of democracy, Washington and New Delhi can collaborate to address these conflicts and ensure a rulesbased order.
The US efforts to bolster multilateral cooperation are bearing fruit, going by the growing clout of the Quad alliance in the face of China’s expansionist moves. The grouping has emerged as a crucial platform leveraging the collective strengths of the member-countries – the US, India, Australia and Japan. It aims to promote a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region where nations can thrive without fear of coercion or intimidation.
The deepening India-US ties in a wide range of sectors are opening myriad avenues for growth and development in both countries. The alliance also provides a framework for addressing other pressing global challenges, ranging from maritime threats to cybersecurity. It is obvious that the US is determined to keep China on the tenterhooks and will try to make the most of its allies’ prowess to achieve its objective. The year 2023 was one of the more consequential years for US-India relations.
Through various engagements and outcome documents, the two major democracies set a new agenda. As indicated by the types of engagements and frequency, one can expect concrete outcomes soon. China remains a driving imperative behind US-India strategic and commercial relations. This common factor will continue to bolster the ties, not only between the two governments, but also among the people of the two countries.
Both the US and India are vibrant democracies and they don’t necessarily have to agree on everything. But both have learnt that their differences don’t overshadow their convergences. India-US relationship today sends a strong signal about the power of democracies, about the rules-based order and about inclusive societies. These are the kinds of principles and ideas that both stand for and uphold.
The relationship is bilateral in terms, but it strengthens and shapes the international architecture. The US has been strongly supportive of India’s aims in reshaping that international architecture and having a bigger role in not only the Indo-Pacific but globally. Whatever the outcome of the US elections, this symbiotic relationship will remain undiminished.
