U.S.-India relationship: How the relationship between the two nations has evolved and what it could mean for the next president

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States comes at a critical juncture for U.S.-India relations. It provides a reminder of the progress our two nations have made over the past eight years, which will define President Obama’s historical legacy, determine the success of the rebalance to Asia, and serve as a model for the next President.

While the media has focused on President Obama’s Iran deal and Middle East peace efforts, this administration’s rebalance to Asia, with India as the linchpin, provides the greatest chance for long-term economic, democratic, and social mobility and stability in generations.

{mosads}Back in 1990, the White House would barely take a meeting with India’s ambassador; today there is no limit to the depth of bilateral strategic relations with India. This extends to cooperation on very sensitive intelligence issues, to an historic new counterterrorism agreement, as well as the important Defense Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI). The United States is now India’s number one partner in defense acquisitions and military exercises, which is a reflection of India’s status as a global player. In short, the relationship between these two great democracies has fundamentally transformed since the days of the Cold War into one built on long-term partnerships, shared values, and universal respect for diversity.

After being appointed as United States Ambassador to India in 2009, I spoke with President Obama about his overall priorities and foreign policy objectives. He articulated the vital role India should play as a strategic partner with the United States in several areas, including counterterrorism, climate issues, trade, and enhancing India’s critical role in positively impacting other countries in Southeast Asia. In addition to deepening the broader bond, President Obama urged me to concentrate on three key policy goals:

First, to connect with all strata of society, with special emphasis on the 180 million Muslims in India, and to meet not only with successful citizens but also with the disadvantaged and the poor.

Second, to find new avenues of counterterrorism cooperation, law enforcement best practices, and intelligence sharing in fighting terrorism together. These efforts led to the signing of a landmark counterterrorism and intelligence-sharing agreement with India in 2010.

Third, the President recognized India’s invaluable role in the region in promoting democracy and facilitating peace. 

From the Middle East to the South China Sea, we have seen challenges to regional stability threaten global security. Additionally, there are no easy answers or quick solutions to solving the recruitment, radicalization and exporting of extremism.

The best long-term solution to these challenges is diverse, vibrant democracies like America and India.  In the end, this is our strongest instrument — that the rule of law, opportunity, and success thrive in open societies. Democracy is the thread that ties our two countries together. Both the BJP and Congress Parties in India, and the two major parties in the United States, have firmly supported and developed this relationship.

As Prime Minister Modi arrives for his fourth visit to Washington, we can look back on the progress of the past eight years with much pride. Our relationship, founded on strong democratic and economic ties, has the potential to shape a world in which economic mobility, human rights, and the freedom to vote are the reality for hundreds of millions of citizens, not just the privileged few.

There was a time when one could imagine the instability in flashpoints across the globe reaching India and sending it into undemocratic chaos or nuclear war. That prospect is increasingly improbable thanks to the Obama historical legacy, which will become a pillar of American foreign policy established by bipartisan presidential and congressional support over the past two decades.

There are areas of additional work and cooperation in the years ahead. The global middle class is demanding more effective investment in affordable education, health care technology, and clean water. We can not only identify additional areas of best practices and collaboration, but consider models for working in multilateral ways to engage the growing Asian middle class. 

Since 1946, there has been a four-fold increase in the number of democracies in the Asia-Pacific region including Japan and Indonesia. The vibrant U.S.-India relationship will not only complement these other open societies, but encourage this positive trajectory moving toward the 22nd century. 

Roemer is the former U.S. Ambassador to India (2009-2011)