Whether Democrat Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump becomes the next US president, India-US relations will continue to enjoy bipartisan support.

“Whoever occupies the White House in January 2025 will realize that this is the most important relationship,” former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said at a recent event at Stanford University. adding that the relationship is not only bipartisan but also long-lasting.

Rice’s statement reflects more than two decades of growing ties between the two largest democracies. It also shows how far India-US relations have evolved since sanctions imposed after India’s second nuclear test in May 1998. The nuclear test and its aftermath marked a turning point in India-US relations . Write in The diplomat In 2018, Raymond E. Vickery Jr., a former Clinton administration official, claimed that the 1998 tests made the United States realize that the nuclear issue could be an obstacle to forming a deeper partnership.

The Bill Clinton era

Two years after the nuclear tests, President Bill Clinton became the first US president in 22 years to visit India, after lifting most of the sanctions imposed on New Delhi. In his speech to a joint session of Parliament, Clinton called India a “natural ally” capable of providing “solutions to virtually every challenge facing humanity.”

The two countries signed a vision document focusing on several strategic issues while advocating for closer economic ties. The US-India Joint Counter-Terrorism Working Group was notably established during his visit, and now constitutes a key pillar of bilateral relations. Clinton’s visit was followed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s state visit in September 2000, during which the two countries agreed to capitalize on the “new momentum in their relations”.

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The George W. Bush era

Diplomatic efforts initiated by Clinton were significantly advanced by his Republican successor, George W. Bush. Bush’s first term coincided with the start of the “global war on terror” following the September 11 attacks, which heightened India’s concerns about transnational terrorism. In the aftermath of the attacks, anti-terrorism cooperation between the two countries was considerably strengthened.

The Bush administration viewed India as a “growing global power with common strategic interests.” Srinath Raghavan, in his 2019 book *Fierce Enigmas: A History of the United States in South Asia*, noted that Bush not only recognized India as a vibrant democracy, but also as a counterweight to China. His second term (2005–09) is often described as the most transformative period in India-US relations, with journalist Fareed Zakaria calling him “the most pro-India president in US history”.

Bush advocated for the India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement, which allowed India access to civil nuclear technology and fuel from other countries. He also supported waivers that helped India gain legitimacy as a nuclear power. Furthermore, the process of separating India and Pakistan – a long-standing demand from New Delhi – began under the Bush administration. Ashley J. Tellis said the move represented “an appreciation of India’s potential for collaboration and resistance across a much larger territory than just South Asia.”

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Barack Obama era

Continuity and expansion characterized India-US relations under Barack Obama. The country’s first black president continued the policy of eliminating hyphenation and deepened strategic partnerships in several areas. Obama set the tone for deeper ties between India and the United States during his visit to India in November 2010. At a joint press conference in New Delhi, he called India a player key on the global stage and reiterated bipartisan support for the evolving strategic partnership.

“You had President Clinton, a Democrat; President Bush, a Republican; and now me, another Democrat – each of us consistently and committedly reaffirming why the U.S.-India relationship is so important,” he said.

The Obama era also saw the first strategic dialogue between India and the United States, which has since become a regular part of their relations. Most notably, defense ties received a significant boost under the Obama administration. Between 2009 and 2013, the United States became India’s second-largest source of arms, according to a Brookings report. In 2015, Obama became the first US president to attend the Republic Day parade, and the two countries renewed a 10-year agreement aimed at strengthening their defense ties. The former president’s final act was to grant India the title of ‘major defense partner’. Former Pentagon official Benjamin Schwartz said the designation was intended to strengthen India as the “primary security provider in the Indian Ocean region.”

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The Donald Trump era

Bilateral relations have entered an uncertain phase under Donald Trump, who has criticized India for high tariffs and insufficient action on climate change. Trump also withdrew special trade treatment given to India in 2019, leading to the imposition of US tariffs on several Indian products. However, aside from occasional hiccups and political rhetoric, bilateral relations have not seen a significant slowdown under Trump’s presidency.

In 2018, India and the United States held their first-ever “two plus two” dialogue in New Delhi. On the sidelines of the meeting, they signed the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement, which grants India access to advanced communications technologies used in US defense equipment. Trump officially visited India in February 2020, when the two countries elevated their relationship to a “comprehensive global strategic partnership.” As he campaigns for a second term, Trump has pledged to strengthen ties with India and his “good friend” Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with whom he enjoyed cordial relations during his first term .

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The Joe Biden era

Joe Biden’s coming to power was viewed positively in India. Biden has extensive experience dealing with India, having served as a key member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and vice chairman. In March 2021, he elevated the Quad to summit meetings, with the next summit taking place in India. According to a Carnegie analysis, this will incentivize the incoming team to “focus from the start of the term on the outcomes and deliverables of a visit to India.”

“Whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump wins, the outcome of the Wilmington summit can reasonably be expected to guide relations in various areas going forward,” former Indian Foreign Minister Kanwal Sibal wrote in a recent article.

Experts believe that iCET (Critical and Emerging Technologies Initiative) has been the biggest success story under the Biden administration. This initiative established a collaborative framework to strengthen cooperation in developing technology areas. The United States has notably restricted Chinese companies’ access to this technology.

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