One of the most remarkable and noteworthy features of the Indo-USA bilateral ties is the strong bi-partisan support in the Unites States currently to support strategic partnerships between India and the USA on business, investments and addressing global issue challenges together.
India and US have strengthened their relations as years go by. Whether it is a Republican or Democrat in head, India has always had relations with all the presidents and have even contributed towards prgress in the White House.
President Clinton, a Democrat, who was in office during 1993-200 visited India in 2001. Prime ministers and presidents of India have also had their fair share of visits with the USA presidents at the white house.
USA current president Joe Biden has always been a strong supporter of India and encourages India-USA partnership constantly. He was a strong supported of the partnership as a senators in 1972 and as a vice president in 2009.
As a Senator of foreign relations Committee in the U.S, he consistently lent his support to multiple resolutions to support India. He was also responsible for dropping U.S sanctions against India in 2001 August after writing a letter to the former President George W. Bush. He also co-sponsored several legislation’s on countering terrorism and worked towards the Senate’s approval of US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement in 2008. Biden was always an ally for India in the Senate.
Biden travelled to India in early 2008m before the US Congress approved the nuclear deal with India. He was consistently supportive of the country’s (India’s) aspirations to play a more active role on the global arena. Biden waved the path for India getting representation in the framework as one of the top countries in Asia.
India’s current Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always had an excellent rapport with the US administration regardless of whether the representation was Democrats or the Republicans. Even Barack Obama visited India in 2010 and as the Chief Guest for Republic day celebrations in 2015.
Biden visited India in 2013 on a four day official visit with his wife Jill Biden. He visited the Gandhi Smriti Museum in Delhi and travelled to Mumbai to meet Indian business leaders at a round table conference at the Bombay stock Exchange. He also delivered a policy speech at the same event.
When PM Narendra Modi visited USA in 2014., Biden hosted a lunch for him and chaired joint session of the Congress n 2016 was discussed.
The Biden-Obama Administration declared India as a country which is a “Major Defense Partner” in 2016. This means India will be treated on par with other close partners of the United States in terms of access to sensitive and advances military technology.
During Biden’s campaign for the 2020 election, he reiterated his vision for the USA-INDIA partnership. He also elaborated on his special bond with India and how the two countries relationship has deepened over the years. He also declared that India and USA will help support each other during times of crisis. The two countries together will tackle big global challenges including climate change and global health security together with India.
The two democracies, India and USA will share and exchange resources for global development of both the countries including a strong foundation and cooperation with strategic, political, defense, security, economic and commercial, education, space, healthcare, energy etc.
Although it was USA which initially stretched their hand forward for a tie, India did not object. USA believes that India has potential when it comes to domains of knowledge, talent, education and innovation. They also believe that our IT staff is well advanced and experienced.
The United States vice president-elect and the Junior Unites States senator Kamala Harris, who is also Joe Biden’s right hand is an Indian descendant.
The USA is India’s largest trading partner. The combined value of trade in services and goods currently stands at 148 billion dollars.
Currently, the population of Indians in USA is 4 million, making up to 1.2% of the USA population. Indians are the third largest group of Asian Americans after Chinese Americans and Filipino Americans.
By Meena Atmakuri
