‘India investing in defence relations with US’

Islamabad:Prof Harsh V Pant, Vice-President, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi, has said that by maintaining a balance of power in border areas and maritime spaces, India is investing in its defence relations with the United States both bilaterally and regionally

Dr Pant was speaking on India-US ties in the age of Trump here at Institute of Regional Studies. Humera Iqbal from IRS moderated

Dr Pant said that the aim is to ensure that stability and influence in the region do not favour any single country or entity. He said India is carefully observing the roadmap Trump will establish for a working relationship with Beijing, as it will have implications for India as well. Given India’s limited capabilities in comparison to rising China, he said it poses an immediate challenge.

Dr Pant opined that as a strategic partner of US, India is increasingly viewed through an Asian perspective rather than a South Asian one given its potential to play a significant role in the emerging balance of power in the region. He highlighted that India seeks to be America’s preferred partner moving beyond its traditional image as a net security provider in the region.

he said that while suspicions regarding each other's motivations persist on both sides, the bureaucratic dynamics at institutional and political levels are actively working to build bilateral relations. Over the years, the architecture of Silicon Valley in the US became a symbol of American Indians within the country. Similarly, the exceptional recognition granted to India by the Bush administration within the global nuclear framework formed a trust bond between the two nations. Today, he said, India has access to and participation in the global high-end technological and nuclear order, which is shaping contemporary geopolitics.

He praised the Indian government’s diplomacy by pulling along with the Biden Administration’s policy on Ukraine while effectively managing its relationship with Russia on various critical issues. Discussing the Indo-US relationship during President Trump's second term, Dr Harsh noted that Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit established a foundation for the framework of their next four-year relationship. Regarding the tariff challenge, President Trump aims to fast-track a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by the end of this year, while Prime Minister Modi prefers a broader BTA rather than a piecemeal approach. For India, it is crucial to procure key US products such as oil and gas, which offer significant market potential.

Another challenge lies in the defence sector, where the US offered the F-35. He opined that India will carefully select American products and engagements to maintain its strong position in global defence markets and resources. Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, he observed India will remain comfortable with its neutral stance. If the US engages directly with Russia, then India may also choose to do so.

Dr Pant emphasised that the biggest uncertainty for India is the China question and how President Trump will address it. Trump has been a key architect of an anti-China policy, which also shifted the Western discourse on China.

He also mentioned that many in India feel confident in managing ties with President Trump despite his unpredictable nature. The India-US relationship during Trump's presidency is expected to bring some surprises, in contrast to past decades when bilateral relations were largely insulated from disruptions. So far, the United States has afforded India a strategic space, possibly due to the realisation that if the Indo-Pacific is to be the focal point of strategic competition, older alliance frameworks may not effectively manage the region. He strongly advocated that India is viewed as an important partner by the United States. Over the years, the US, he maintained, never imposed conditions on India concerning any future critical security situations in exchange for benefits provided to them.