With one eye on China, Modi’s India strikes up a firm friendship with the US, but will it endure?

India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has a once-in-a-generation opportunity for reorienting ties with the US. Modi has just concluded his fourth visit to the United States since taking office and his last engagement with the Obama administration. For President Barack Obama, strengthening US-India ties is an achievement in an otherwise underwhelming foreign policy track record, and the two men have developed a personal rapport. Both would like to institutionalise this rapport so that long-term sustainable outcomes can be achieved.

Even as Modi reinforces his credentials as the politician best placed to move forward not only Indian economic reforms but also Indo-US ties, he must address concerns about India’s record on religious tolerance as well as economic issues such as the protection of intellectual property and high tariffs.

Narendra Modi emphasises ‘common belief in liberty’ during landmark address to joint session of US Congress

At a time when the US Congress is tightening the screws on military aid to Pakistan, the US House of Representatives in May approved a bipartisan legislative move to strengthen defence ties with India, bringing the nation on a par with Nato allies on defence equipment sales and technology transfer.

Indo-US defence ties have soared under the Modi government, powered by defence trade between the two worth US$14 billion in 2015. The two nations are collaborating on joint projects with a significant strategic imprint, such as aircraft carrier and jet engine designs. Joint exercises are routine. India has yet to agree to the US request for joint patrolling of the sea lanes, though after years of wrangling, in April it agreed in principle to open up its military bases to the US. Such sharing of logistics would allow the two naval forces to refuel and reprovision expeditiously.

Indian moves towards the US are driven in large measure by China’s openly hostile acts vis-à-vis India. The Modi government’s initial outreach towards China has not resulted in any improvement in bilateral ties. China blocked the United Nations from banning Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, as a favour to Pakistan, by insisting that UN designation of any individual as a terrorist is a “serious issue”. And China is working in concert with Pakistan to block India’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the 48-nation grouping that controls nuclear-related exports.

Obama-Modi friendship is nothing but calculated political masterstroke, analysts say

The US supports India’s entry into the club and has come out fighting for the cause. India received a one-time clean waiver from the grouping in 2008 after convincing it of the effectiveness of its export-control regime, which was deemed in line with global standards. Today, India wants to be part of the decision-making at the highest levels of global nuclear architecture.