India - US ties

What is the issue?

• The US has unveiled its renewed strategies in terms of Afghanistan and the South Asia region in general.
• With these developments in line and with US Defence Secretary's recent visit to India, India's relation with the US is witnessing a positive change.

How is the present India-US relations?

• Pakistan - The Trump administration is increasingly implying its hard-line approach on Pakistan’s support for terrorism.
• This gains significance when India is trying to convey to the world the role of Pakistan as a state sponsor of terror.
• The US's proposed aims in Afghanistan is also significantly shaping the convergence between India and US.
• South-Asia - New alignments are emerging with India and the U.S. expanding its military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Unlike in the past, India is more actively involved in East and Southeast Asia as part of its ‘Act East’ policy.
• Given the role of China in the Indo-Pacific region, US is also encouraging India to shore up its presence in the South Asian region.
• Defence - The US Defence Secretary hinted at sharing some of the US's most advanced defence technologies with India.
• This is expected to further deepen the defence trade and technology collaboration between the defence industries of both the countries.
• The sale of 22 Sea Guardian Unmanned Aerial Systems announced during Modi’s visit to the U.S. earlier this year, is high on the agenda.
• With this, the Indian Navy is expected to acquire the world’s most advanced maritime reconnaissance drone.

What lies ahead?

• The India-US relations, especially in terms of Pakistan, is well evolved at this juncture.
• There is a growing convergence between the U.S. and India on key regional and global security issues.
• The challenge now is to sustain the present momentum given the varied national and global  commitments for both the countries.

Source: The Hindu