17 January 2025 : Daily Answer Writing

Q1) While there remains a widespread optimism about the future of the India-U.S. partnership, relations are considerably more fragile than they might appear. Do you agree? Justify using examples. (150 Words/10 Marks)

 

ANSWER:

India and the USA share a close cultural, strategic, economic, and military relationship. Although initially, the two sides look at each other with suspicion, over the years the relationship has blossomed into a strong friendship.

Optimism in relationship:

1. Defence: (a) defence acquisition from USA has crossed over USD 13 billion; (b) India and USA have signed defence agreements like COMCASA, LEMOA and GSOMIA.

2. Economy: (a) Bilateral trade now stands at USD 120 Billion, with the balance in favour of India; (b) cumulative FDI from the USA to India was over $50 billion, spanning various sectors; (c) India-US Economic and Financial Partnership facilitates cooperation in various areas.

3. Strategic: (a) through iCET both India and US seek to uphold free, open, and secure digital environment and counter Beijing’s influence in ICT [e.g., Huawei’s role in 5G technology]; (b) India and USA also intent to ensure free and open SLOCs in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.

4. Energy: (a) India imports significant quantities of energy resources, including crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), from the USA; (b) joint efforts in renewable energy and climate change are also prominent; (c) civil nuclear partnership – the two sides have started working on AP1000 reactors.

 

Fragile areas in relationship:

1. Democratic values: (a) USA has developed deep concerns due to rising religious intolerance – Freedom House downgraded India’s score from “free” to “partly free,” citing “rising violence and discriminatory policies”; (b) USA has been openly critical of some Indian policies – freedom of expression and CAA (2019); (c) USA’s criticism of arrest of several Indian opposition leaders has further irked India; (d) Recent reports that India may have backed covert missions to commit extrajudicial killings in Canada and the United States have led questions over the idea of shared values.

2. Geopolitics: (a) India engagement with Russia (S-400) and Iran (Chabahar port) have invited threats of US sanctions; (b) India’s ambition to have a seat at the table of great powers irks status-quoist USA; (c) India’s desire for multipolarity often appears as anti-western; (d) India’s strategic autonomy, such as refusing to condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine, also irks the USA; (e) USA’s close contacts with Pakistan irks India.

3. Other issues: (a) USA’s sudden withdrawal from Afghanistan has led India to view USA as an unreliable partner; (b) India and Western nations have clashed over proposed emissions trajectories; (c) North-South divide in WTO has also affected the bilateral relationship between India and US; (d) USA’s “Special 301” report placed India in Priority Watch list for issues in IPR laws.

The U.S.-India relationship is likely to improve, but potential challenges must be addressed or overlooked. The ability of Washington and New Delhi to strengthen their partnership will significantly influence 21st-century geopolitics.

 

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