The United States and India: A Growing Strategic Partnership

"India and the United States share a commitment to freedom and a belief that democracy provides the best path to a more hopeful future for all people. Because of our shared values, the relationship between our two countries has never been stronger." – President George W. Bush

The U.S.-India strategic partnership is rooted in shared values and is broad in its nature and scope, with our two countries working together toward global action on global issues, including non-proliferation, energy and the environment, and expansion of economic and political freedom. The U.S. views India as a rising global power and partner, one whose interests converge in important respects with those of the United States. The U.S. also anticipates that India will play an increasingly important leadership role in Asia in the 21^st century.

•  Within the first quarter of this century, India is likely to be numbered among the world’s five largest economies. 
• The country thrives as a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-lingual democracy characterized by freedom, rule of law, and constitutional government. 
• India’s large and increasingly sophisticated military forces remain committed to the principle of civilian control.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s July 2005 visit to Washington coincided with the completion of the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP), an initiative to expand cooperation in space, civil nuclear energy, and high technology. During the visit, the U.S. and India launched a number of other forward-looking global initiatives:

• A civil nuclear cooperation initiative, recasting a historically divisive issue, to bring India into the nonproliferation mainstream while giving it access to civilian nuclear technology to help meet its pressing energy needs.
  
• The U.S.-India Economic Dialogue, expanding our trade and investment links. Covering trade, finance, the environment, and commerce, the dialogue will harness private sector energy to further deepen the economic relationship between the U.S. and this rapidly growing economic power.
  
•  Closer defense relations, growing from the June 2005 agreement on a New Framework for the U.S.-India Defense Relationship. Our two militaries are increasing engagement in a range of contacts, including major joint exercises. Our improved military-to-military relationship is paying dividends, as in the coordinated response to the tsunami disaster and sets the stage for enhanced cooperation in areas such as maritime security.
  
•  Joint initiatives on democracy promotion and development, HIV/AIDS, agriculture, science and technology, and disaster response.

With President Bush’s March 2006 visit to India, we will continue to strengthen the relationship, bringing greater security and prosperity to both countries.