Emerging Trends in India–US Relations

Of late the relationship with the United States has become India’s most important bilateral relationship. Bilateral trade may have remained small due to India’s own huge domestic market in other respects economic relations are growing fast. Bilateral investment ties have grown substantially. Institutional mechanisms involving the private sectors in both countries are active in promoting cooperation in high technology, defence procurement and production, agriculture, health and energy. Much more, however, needs to be done to expedite procedures for clearances for high-tech exports from the US. India, in turn, is conscious of the fact that it needs to take a number of steps to take if it is to foster cooperation with the US in higher education. It also needs to be recognised that on issues like the Doha Round and Climate Change, much work needs to be done to bridge differences, though one can derive satisfaction from the fact that it was the agreement reached between President Obama and leaders of the ‘BASIC’ grouping that prevented a total breakdown of the Copenhagen Summit. This agreement largely reflected the understanding reached when Dr. Manmohan Singh visited Washington.