Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the relationship between India and the United States has transformed into a strong and dynamic global strategic partnership, characterized by practical and interest-based policies. The transition from ideological inflexibility to strategic pragmatism has enabled India to reshape its foreign policy, emphasizing long-term strategic goals over obsolete paradigms. Although there are occasional differences, the partnership's resilience and diverse interactions guarantee its ongoing vitality, with both countries dedicated to promoting their mutual interests in an ever-evolving global environment.
The emphasis of the new Trump administration on “rigid transactionalism” has prompted some Indian analysts to adopt a pessimistic outlook regarding the future of India-US relations, especially in relation to strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, trade, and immigration. Although trade constitutes a crucial element of this bilateral relationship, a comprehensive evaluation indicates that the engagement between the two nations is highly complex, and advancements in various areas of shared interest have been both rapid and significant. Consequently, certain developments in one area, which may be viewed as detrimental or uncooperative, are unlikely to undermine the overall strength of the India-US relationship. This commentary posits that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, he has embraced a pragmatic approach to India-US relations, thereby reshaping the dynamics of the partnership to such an extent that it now possesses the necessary depth, breadth, and intensity to progress with vigour and vitality.
PM Modi and His Approach
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the India-US relationship has undergone significant transformation, marked by changes in its form, direction, style, and substance. The paradigm for working with the United States has moved from an ideological, non-aligned, and anti-American stance to a pragmatic approach, reflecting a change in the form of this relationship. Greater strategic cooperation between the two countries through various bilateral and regional initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region demonstrates a shift in the direction of this partnership. Modi has also used informal diplomacy, such as symbolic gestures like diplomatic hugs, personally receiving the visiting US dignitaries in India, and directly engaging with the Indian diaspora in the United States to strengthen this relationship, reflecting a shift in the style of engagement.
Under his leadership, India and the United States signed all of the strategic foundational defence agreements, such as the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016, the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in 2018, the Industrial Security Annex in 2019, and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) in 2020. The reactivation and upgradation of the Quad further reflect a shift in the substance of this relationship.
Redefining the partnership
Under the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), India and the US can use each other’s military bases for logistical purposes, including refuelling and replenishment[1]. This agreement primarily covers four areas port calls, joint exercises, training and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. It lays down that access to military basis for any other purpose has to be mutually agreed upon on a case-by-case basis. This foundational agreement has immense strategic implications for India, as it enhances its defence forces operational and strategic capabilities in the India Ocean region and beyond. It also enhances the operational coordination between the two countries for engaging jointly in humanitarian and disaster relief operations in this region, boosting New Delhi’s capabilities as a first responder and preferred security provider in the Indian Ocean region. The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), enables both countries to communicate through secure communication platforms like Data Link 16, ensuring interoperability. This agreement has also huge strategic benefits for India but the full potential of this agreement will be realized during any contingency, offering critical advantages. The Industrial Security Annex (ISA) signed in 2019, is an extension of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), allows the Indian private sector companies to exchange classified information with US defence companies. This has made the private sector a more integral part of the India-US defence partnership, strengthening this relationship. The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) signed in 2020, facilitates the sharing of geospatial intelligence, offering substantial strategic and maritime benefits. For instance, in 2022, under BECA agreement, the US shared geospatial intelligence with Indian defence forces about Chinese PLA troop movements toward the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh. This intelligence allowed Indian forces to mobilize in advance and thwart PLA expansionism into Indian territory[2].
The previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government did not sign these foundational agreements, perhaps out of the fear that doing so would upset its ties with China and Russia and compromise India’s strategic autonomy. This approach reflected its ideological bias that limited strategic thinking and hindered New Delhi from effectively pursuing genuine national security objectives. Foreign policy decisions were shaped by the apprehensions of how other countries might react to India’s strategic choices rather than focused pursuit of its national interest. This reliance on outdated frameworks overshadowed a pragmatic evaluation of India’s evolving security and geopolitical needs.
The concept of “strategic autonomy” is fundamentally a realistic construct, entailing pursuit of country’s national interest, that was adopted in India’s foreign policy discourse post-1990s as a replacement for the rigid and ideologically driven framework of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)[3]. NAM, while relevant during the Cold War, became an inflexible framework for dealing with the geopolitical realities of the post-cold war period. Although strategic autonomy was intended to be a more adaptable and flexible approach, it was, to begin with, infused with same ideological underpinnings that was, if no longer anti-US, suspicious of the US. However, when Narendra Modi came to power, he redefined ‘strategic autonomy’ bringing in greater pragmatism and realism into India’s foreign policy and began engaging with the US and other powers based on India’s changing geostrategic national interests and pragmatic considerations rather than outdated frameworks.[4] This pragmatic approach subsequently meant not bothering about how China, Russia, or other powers might react to India’s closer strategic ties with the US. Modi’s pragmatic and interest-driven foreign policy marked a decisive break from this past, enabling India to redefine its relationships on its terms.[5]
As a result, the India-US relationship has significantly deepened, evolving into a “comprehensive global strategic partnership.” The two countries are not only cooperating in the Indo-Pacific region through the Quad and other mechanisms such as the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) initiative, trilaterals and foundational defence agreements, but they are also expanding their cooperation to West Asia through platforms such as the I2U2 [India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States] group and the establishment of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Furthermore, they cooperate at the global level through a variety of initiatives and multilateral platforms which have strengthened and secured India-US partnership against divergences. For example, if disagreements arise in one area, robust cooperation in other areas ensures the relationship remains on track. This pragmatic and multidimensional engagement underscores the resilience and depth of the partnership.[6]
Deepening strategic ties
Under the Narendra Modi, India and the US signed the Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region in 2015. This was a critically important initiative as it laid the foundation for enhanced India-US cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.[7] For the first time, a more integrated and strategic approach to the region was outlined in this vision document. India has also adopted the US Indo-Pacific framework, which emphasizes a single, integrated strategic approach to the region, enabling India to align its policies accordingly. This framework reflects India’s commitment to securing its interests and maintaining a stable, rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.[8]
Subsequently, in 2017, the Quad was reactivated, and it now holds regular meetings, emerging as a significant group to maintain strategic deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. India has achieved notable progress within the Quad framework in a relatively brief span of time. A virtual summit held on March 12 resulted in a joint statement, joint op-ed, and joint vaccine initiative, marking a significant evolution for the QUAD. Recently in 2024, Quad summit in Wilmington, Delaware, was held by former US President Joe Biden. Various initiatives announced in this summit were seen in terms of consolidation of this strategic regional grouping. India’s active engagement with the QUAD since 2017 underscores a strategic realignment and a proactive response to China’s aggression. This growing cooperation reflects India’s evolving foreign policy and its commitment to strengthening ties with the US while addressing regional challenges.[9]
Additionally, in May 2022, former US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Modi announced the “US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET),” which was subsequently launched in January 2023, with the goal of elevating and expanding the defence industrial cooperation and technology partnership between the private businesses, government, and educational institutions of the two countries. Both countries have released an action plan for improved cooperation in high-tech fields under the “Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET).” The initiative’s main goals are to unify export regulations, remove regulatory obstacles, and promote greater collaboration in critical and emerging fields like Quantum Computing, Telecommunication, Artificial intelligence and Semiconductors.[10]
During his state visit to the US in June 2023, Narendra Modi pursued a number of noteworthy and important initiatives. The US and India jointly released a statement outlining their shared objective of becoming “among the closest partners in the world—a partnership of democracies looking into the 21st century with hope, ambition, and confidence.” “No corner of human endeavor is untouched by the partnership between our two great countries, which spans the seas to the stars”. Prime Minister Modi’s visit emphasized the confidence, ambition, and hope for a “next-generation partnership” between the US and India. A memorandum of understanding was inked by GE Aerospace and HAL to produce fighter jet engines F414 for India’s Light Combat Aircraft, which was a major step towards boosting technology transfer to India.[11]
There were some issues in the India-US relationship during the final months of the Biden administration. However, it is important to note that these had little impact on the strategic partnership between the two countries. India was able to pursue its interests uncompromisingly, whether it was purchasing oil from Russia, refraining from condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, or abstaining from voting alongside the US at the United Nations on some important issues. This was possible because Prime Minister Modi had significantly strengthened the strategic dimension of this relationship. As a result, India’s divergent stance on several critical issues did not derail the partnership. Even during the final weeks, as President Biden neared the end of his tenure, his National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan visited India, demonstrating continued engagement. During this visit, Sullivan assured that US government was now taking concrete steps to end restrictions and regulatory barriers to India-US civil nuclear cooperation, underscoring the resilience and forward momentum of their strategic relationship.[12]
Engaging Trump 2.0
The continued upward trajectory of this relationship is visible during the new Trump administration with further progress made on the civil nuclear issue. During Modi’s recent visit to the US on 13 February 2025, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to fully realize the US-India 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement by moving forward with plans to work together to build US-designed nuclear reactors in India through large-scale localization and possible technology transfer. Moreover, PM Modi was very quick to engage with the new US administration, as he was among the first global leaders to congratulate Trump. Additionally, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended Trump’s presidential inauguration ceremony in the US, where he met the key members of the new administration and laid the groundwork for a deeper engagement, signalling India’s proactive approach to working with the new administration.[13]
Furthermore, during Modi’s recent visit, several important agreements were signed in the areas of defence, trade, technology, mobility, energy, and more. Both countries renewed the framework for defence cooperation for another 10 years, signalling a deep commitment to their strategic partnership. Both countries also unveiled the “U.S.-India COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century,” a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing military collaboration and technology sharing[14].
They also announced the US-India TRUST (“Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology”) initiative, which will catalyse government-to-government, academia, and private sector collaboration to promote the application of critical and emerging technologies in areas like defence, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum, biotechnology, energy, and space, while encouraging the use of verified technology vendors and ensuring sensitive technologies are protected. A key highlight of this visit was the continued focus on cooperation in emerging technologies, dispelling speculation among many experts in India about whether Trump 2.0 would continue to prioritize collaboration between the two countries in these critical areas. Moreover, reaffirming their continued priority and shared vision for the Indo-Pacific, both leaders emphasized their support for ASEAN Centrality, adherence to international law, and freedom of navigation in this region.[15]
Moreover, both leaders highlighted the importance of investing in critical infrastructure and economic corridors to advance peace and security in the region. Emphasizing the true nature of their “comprehensive global strategic partnership,” they announced their plans to convene partners from the IMEC and the I2U2 Group within the next six months to announce new initiatives in 2025. The leaders recognized the need to build new plurilateral anchor partnerships in the Western Indian Ocean, Middle East, and Indo-Pacific to grow relationships, commerce, and cooperation across defence, technology, energy, and critical minerals, reflecting the greater breadth of their partnership. The joint statement read, “The US appreciates India’s role as a developmental, humanitarian assistance, and net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region.” reflecting the continued US support for India’s regional leadership and affirming the depth of this relationship even under the transactional Trump.
Moreover, Prime Minister Modi has given a personal touch to India-US relations in a way never seen before and his direct engagement with the Indian-American diaspora through notable events like the Madison Square Garden event in 2014 and the Houston event in 2019 has been significant as he aimed to leverage their influence to strengthen India-US ties and attract investments for his various economic initiatives. His direct engagement with the Indian-American diaspora has certainly paid off and been instrumental in strengthening India-US ties. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this connection proved crucial as the diaspora influenced the US administration to provide critical Covid-related assistance to India, thereby enhancing bilateral nations.
Furthermore, there is now greater maturity in the India-US relationship, as both nations are ensuring that divergent issues do not derail this important partnership. Rather than overburdening the relationship by focusing on too many issues, they are focusing on important critical areas and strengthening their partnership. This pragmatic approach has strengthened the partnership and made it more resilient to challenges and upcoming disruptions.[16]
Conclusion
In conclusion, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India-US relations have evolved into a robust and dynamic global strategic partnership, marked by pragmatic and interest-driven policies. The shift from ideological rigidity to strategic realism has allowed India to redefine its foreign policy, focusing on long-term strategic objectives rather than outdated frameworks. Key defence agreements, regional cooperation through initiatives like the Quad, and global collaborations have significantly deepened bilateral ties, enhancing both countries’ strategic positioning, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. Despite occasional divergences, the partnership’s resilience and multifaceted engagement ensure its continued strength, with both nations committed to advancing their shared interests in a rapidly changing global landscape.
*Dr. Imran Khurshid had his doctoral degree in Political Science from the University of Kashmir. He specializes in Indo-Pacific studies and South Asian security issues. He is now working as a Visting Research Fellow with ICPS. The views expressed here are his own.
[1] “India, US sign military logistics pact”, The Hindu, 17 November 2021.
[2] Imran Khurshid, “Navigating strategic waters: India-US foundational defence agreements and the quest for strategic autonomy”, Australian Journal of Maritime & Ocean Affairs, 08 November 2024.
[3] Jeff Smith, “Strategic Autonomy and U.S.-Indian Relations”, War on the Rocks, 06 November 2020.
[4] Harsh V Pant, “Indo-US relations under Modi: the strategic logic underlying the embrace”, International Affairs Oxford Academic, 01 January 2017.
[5] Imran Khurshid, “India–US Strategic Cooperation through the LEMOA Lens”, India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs, 16, August 2023.
[6] Joint Fact Sheet, “The United States and India Continue to Expand Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership”, The White House, 21 September 2024.
[7] Ashley Tellis, “Narendra Modi and U.S.–India Relations”, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1 November 2018.
[8] Refer point 4
[9] Tanvi Madan, “What does the Quad summit signal for U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific?, Brookings, 16 March 2021.
[10] FACT SHEET, ”United States and India Elevate Strategic Partnership with the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (ICET)”, The White House, 31 January 2023
[11] Refer point 6
[12] Ibid
[13] Ministry of External affairs, “India - U.S. Joint Statement (February 13, 2025)“, Ministry of External Affairs Government of India, 13 February 2025
[14] White House, “United States-India Joint Leaders’ Statement – The White House“, 13 February 2025.
[15] Ibid
[16] PTI, ‘India-US relationship where it stands today a significant achievement of Biden administration: Sullivan | World News”, The Indian Express, 16 January 2025.
