United States-India Strategic Partnership: Opportunities and Challenges in the Twenty-First Century

The United States (US) and India have recently several initiatives that could lead to a strong strategic partnership. India visualizes a major role for itself in the current world order and the US acknowledges this possibility. India seeks lasting partnerships achieve its strategic ambitions. The primary question of this thesis is, Will the current partnership agreements between the US and India further India’s long-term national interests? Despite holding many common values including support for democracy, India and the US have not shared a very cordial relationship in the past. However, since the end of the Cold War, the two nations have moved closer towards a much consistent relationship. This study assesses the possibility of India achieving the objectives through a lasting partnership with the US vis-à-vis partnerships with other major global players. The study indicates that there is a great potential for security partnership but the current efforts are more rhetorical than practical. The real convergence of interests between India and the US is visible in the economic and technological arenas. The history indicates that the US is not a reliable security partner for India, nor will it be in a position to support India in the event of war with either Pakistan or China. This thesis recommends that India continues to pursue multilateralism adopting a combination of realist and liberal policy which is likely to safeguard its long-term national interests.