India-US ties will be sound but susceptible to shocks

Subject

Political and economic relations between Delhi and Washington.

Significance

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar last week said Delhi and Washington faced a challenge to “refresh” bilateral ties, despite “dramatic changes” over the last 20 years. India and the United States are strategic partners, but relations have come under strain over Kashmir, defence and trade.

Impacts

• The recent halting of US-Taliban talks, which had worried Delhi because they excluded Kabul, will remove a minor source of India-US tension.
• India-US commercial spats will hurt Delhi’s ‘Make in India’ scheme, designed to persuade international manufactures to seek local partners.
• Enduring India-US strains would undermine Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy, as Delhi is a key partner within it.