Ties between the US and India are currently upbeat and have set the grounds for a deeper bilateral relationship. President Barack Obama was the first US head of state to attend India’s Republic Day celebrations on 26 January in New Delhi as its chief guest. The US-India relationship has seen an increased level of engagement by US officials as Congress seeks to develop a stronger relationship with India. Like George W. Bush did previously, Obama has endorsed the relationship, declaring the growing US-India relationship to be a ‘defining partnership of the 21st century’.

Key points

• Deeper bilateral ties may serve to bolster India’s export market, improve US investor confidence in India, and enable India to develop and manufacture the military technology it requires. The US also has the opportunity to enhance its military exports to India.
• A strong relationship with India could help the US, if required, in countering China’s regional influence.
• Counter-terrorism is a key area that the US will develop with India, especially given the ambivalent nature of its counter-terrorism operations with Pakistan.
• Renewed efforts to address nuclear liability laws mean that nuclear co-operation looks increasingly promising.