“Whoever occupies the White House in January 2025 will realise that this is the most important relationship,” said former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at a recent event at Stanford University, adding that the relationship is not only bipartisan but also enduring.
Rice’s statement reflects over two decades of growing ties between the two largest democracies. It also highlights how far India-US relations have come since the sanctions imposed after India’s second nuclear test in May 1998. The nuclear test and its aftermath marked a tipping point in India-US ties. Writing in The Diplomat in 2018, Raymond E. Vickery Jr, a former Clinton administration official, argued that the 1998 tests made the US realise that the nuclear issue could be a barrier to forming a greater partnership.
Bill Clinton Era
Within two years of the nuclear tests, President Bill Clinton became the first US president in 22 years to visit India, having eliminated most of the sanctions on New Delhi. In his address to a joint session of Parliament, Clinton referred to India as a “natural ally” that can provide “solutions to virtually every challenge humanity knows.”
Both countries signed a vision document focusing on several strategic issues while advocating for greater economic ties. Notably, the US-India Joint Counterterrorism Working Group was established during his visit, which is now a key pillar of the bilateral relationship. Clinton’s visit was followed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s state visit in September 2000, during which both countries agreed to build upon the “new momentum in their relationship.”
Also read: US Elections 2024: Donald Trump’s net worth declines by $2.4 billion as his social media stock plummets
George W Bush Era
The diplomatic outreach initiated by Clinton was significantly advanced by his Republican successor, George W Bush. Bush’s first term coincided with the start of the ‘Global War on Terrorism’ following the 9/11 attacks, which heightened India’s concerns about transnational terrorism. In the aftermath of the attacks, counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries increased significantly.
The Bush administration viewed India as a “growing world power with common strategic interests.” Srinath Raghavan, in his 2019 book *Fierce Enigmas: A History of the United States in South Asia*, noted that Bush not only recognised India as a vibrant democracy but also as a counterweight to China. His second term (2005-09) is often described as the most transformative period in India-US relations, with journalist Fareed Zakaria calling him the “most pro-Indian president in US history.”
Bush advocated for the India–United States Civil Nuclear Agreement, which allowed India access to civilian nuclear technology and fuel from other countries. He also supported waivers that helped India gain legitimacy as a nuclear power. Furthermore, the process of de-hyphenating India and Pakistan—a longstanding demand of New Delhi—began under the Bush administration. Ashley J. Tellis said this shift represented “an appreciation of India’s potential for collaboration and resistance across a much larger canvas than simply South Asia.”
Also read: US Election 2024: Key Congress races to watch on November 5
Barack Obama Era
Continuity and expansion characterised India-US relations under Barack Obama. The country’s first Black president continued the de-hyphenation policy and deepened strategic partnerships in several areas. Obama set the tone for deeper India-US ties during his visit to India in November 2010. While addressing a joint press conference in New Delhi, he called India a key actor on the global stage and reiterated bipartisan support for the evolving strategic partnership.
“You had President Clinton, a Democrat; President Bush, a Republican; and now me, another Democrat—each of us reaffirming in a steady, committed way why the US-India relationship is so important,” he stated.
The Obama era also saw the first India-US strategic dialogue, which has since become a regular feature of the relationship. Most notably, defence ties received a significant boost under the Obama administration. Between 2009 and 2013, the US became India’s second-largest source of arms, according to a Brookings report. In 2015, Obama became the first US president to attend the Republic Day parade, and both countries renewed a 10-year deal to strengthen defence ties. The former president’s final act was granting India the title of ‘major defence partner.’ Former Pentagon official Benjamin Schwartz said this designation aimed to strengthen India as the “predominant security provider in the Indian Ocean Region.”
Also read: US election: Investors pour money into crypto ETFs betting on a Trump win
Donald Trump Era
Bilateral ties entered an uncertain phase under Donald Trump, who criticised India for high tariffs and insufficient action on climate change. Trump also withdrew special trade treatment for India in 2019, leading to US tariffs on several Indian products. However, apart from occasional hiccups and political rhetoric, bilateral relations did not experience a significant downturn during Trump’s presidency.
In 2018, India and the US held their first-ever “two-plus-two” dialogue in New Delhi. On the sidelines of the meeting, they signed the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement, which granted India access to advanced communication technology used in US defence equipment. Trump officially visited India in February 2020, when both countries elevated their relationship to a ‘comprehensive global strategic partnership.’ As he campaigns for a second term, Trump has vowed to strengthen ties with India and his “good friend” PM Narendra Modi, with whom he shared cordial relations during his first term.
Also read: ‘Trump is a threat to economy’: Kamala Harris’ team warns CEOs
Joe Biden Era
Joe Biden’s rise to power was viewed positively in India. Biden has extensive experience engaging with India, having served as a key member of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and as Vice President. In March 2021, he elevated the Quad to summit-level meetings, with the next summit in India. According to a Carnegie analysis, this will prompt the incoming team to “focus early in the term on outcomes and deliverables from an India visit.”
“Whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump wins, it can be reasonably expected that the outcome of the Wilmington summit will guide the relationship in various domains going forward,” wrote former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal in a recent article.
Experts believe the iCET (Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies) has been the biggest success story under the Biden administration. This initiative established a collaborative framework to enhance cooperation in developing fields of technology. Notably, the US has restricted Chinese companies’ access to such technology
Also read: Why we may not know next US president on election day? An Arizona county is the reason.