India-US relations is an Atlantic style relationship with strong Asian tone. Interestingly, China is shaping both US and Indian foreign policy.
The phenomenal economic growth of China and its muscular assertion have created security dilemmas for both. The strategic convergence between the two has gradually grown over the past two decades, but India and the US see each other differently in different geographical areas, mainly in Afghanistan. India’s position on Russia is like India giving America a taste of its own medicine. It is India that after a long time claims both its non-alignment and independence from foreign policy. The Indian refusal to follow the American line on Russian aggression against Ukraine did not cause the kind of rebuttals commonly seen in such cases or with some other countries. A deeper dive is an indication of the fact that the accommodation of Indian sensitivities, whether China, Russia or Kashmir, was an American norm. However, the Indian independence of view on Russia-Ukraine crisis is seen by some as the beginning of America-India cracks, others believe that the China phobia will continue to cement the relationship, strengthen it and the direction of the relationship to determine.
The India-US 2 + 2 dialogue is an annual affair launched in September 2018 where the foreign and defense counterparts meet. It was launched with the aim of deepening cooperation between the two countries. The 4th India-US 2 + 2 ministerial dialogue took place on 11 April 2022 in Washington. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar were there to attend the meeting. The dialogue was preceded by a virtual meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joseph Biden. It built on the September 2021 meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Modi, and their respective participation in summit related to COVID-19, climate, infrastructure and supply chain resilience, the ministers emphasized the importance of the US-India comprehensive global strategic partnership reaffirms international peace and security.
The fourth iteration of the 2 + 2 dialogue was the first meeting of the Ministerial Dialogue under the Biden administration. In the first session of the 2 + 2 talks, President Biden tried to stop Modi from continuing to buy oil from Russia, but did not get a commitment from him. Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, said: “What the president did … was to make clear what the impact of the course of our sanctions would be. We expect everyone to stick to it.”
“India imports only about 1-2 percent of its energy from Russia. The President has made it clear that we would like to help them diversify as well. ” However, she explained that relations with India were “of the utmost importance to the United States”, adding that she did not consider the meeting “a contradictory call”.
Unlike fellow members of the quad group Australia, Japan and the United States, India continues to buy Russian oil and has refused to join the United Nations voices condemning Moscow. Indian oil refineries have reportedly continued to buy Russian oil at a discount, even as the West seeks to isolate Moscow. Historically, New Delhi and Moscow have had close ties; India has called for an end to the violence in Ukraine, but has stopped condemning Russia’s invasion and has also abstained with three votes at the UN.
Biden said during a meeting of U.S. business leaders in Washington that “The Quad is with the possible exception that India is somewhat shaky in terms of dealing with Russia’s aggression.” One US official also warned India that there would be consequences of a “more explicit strategic alignment” with Moscow and that it would be “significant and long-term”.
India stood its ground despite what appeared to be increasing pressure from the US. Delhi continued to promote dialogue to end the war. It did not directly criticize Russia, but drove the issue softly by emphasizing the need to respect the sovereignty of each nation; in some respects does not condemn Russia, but supports its view of NATO’s eastern enlargement as a provocation.
Pratyush Rao, director for South Asia at Control Risks Consultation, said the visit came at a sensitive time for the relationship. “It was a visible reaffirmation at the highest levels by both sides of the bilateral relationship, amid all the media speculation about the growing tensions over the Ukraine conflict. The message was, yes, we disagree on Russia and are unlikely to bridge the gap, but will also not allow it to derail greater cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, “he added.
It is clear from the statements that came after the annual 2 + 2 dialogue that the USA is prepared to accommodate India’s position on Ukraine and continue as usual. PM Modi and his ministers reaffirmed their stated policy of non-alignment over Ukraine, Biden and his ministers seemed to have more understanding of Delhi’s position, a noticeable shift from some earlier strong statements by Washington officials. Blinken said India “must make its own decisions on how to approach this challenge”.
This is not a first. The Fight Against America’s Opponents by Sanctions (CAATSA) is a tough US law that authorizes the administration to impose sanctions on countries that buy large defense equipment from Russia in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election. elections. Under CAATSA, the US has already imposed sanctions on Turkey for purchasing a bundle of Russia’s S-400 missile defense systems. Following US sanctions against Turkey for acquiring S-400 missile systems, there were concerns that Washington could impose similar sanctions on India. However, the US has not yet made a decision on possible sanctions or remission to India under CATSAA legislation for the purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile defense system.
The display of the American accommodation of the Indian attitude is clearly an indication of the fact that the relationship is critically important to the United States, and it is not just defined by China. The US regards India as a net security provider throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
No discussion of interstate relations in today’s world can be given a conclusion without bringing in the economic dimension. Economic relations between India and the US have improved despite some initial irritations. In May 2021, India’s total trade with the United States was $ 9.18 billion; India is no. 10 among U.S. trading partners in 2021. Even though the pandemic has taken its toll on trade, the United States remains India’s largest trading partner and largest export market.
India also gained the Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA-1) status in 2018. The STA-1 status was previously reserved specifically for signatories of the export control regimes and was not even extended to include the US ally Israel. This status makes India the only nuclear nation it owns and marks New Delhi’s entry into the inner circle of America’s closest partners.
As a footnote, I can not refrain from adding that the double standards are not only limited to stay on Russia and other trade concessions, the United States’ convergence with India is also a major compromise on what the US stands for In terms of human rights, whether it is Kashmir or minority rights. The US can not point fingers at China and close its eyes on what is happening in India.
Interestingly, the cherry on top in a sarcastic vein is the joint statement issued by the US and India at the end of the fourth annual 2 + 2 ministerial dialogue calling on Pakistan to “immediate, sustained And take “irreversible action” to ensure that no area under its control has been used for terrorist attacks.
The author is an Associate Professor of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts, IBA Karachi
