The US Has Never Been a Good Friend of India: A Historical and Strategic Perspective


The US Has Never Been a Good Friend of India: A Historical and Strategic Perspective

Introduction

Diplomacy often dresses itself in polite language — “strategic partnership,” “shared values,” and “mutual interests.” Over the past two decades, the United States has repeatedly described India as a natural ally, a partner in democracy, and a key player in the Indo-Pacific. But when one examines the historical record and strategic behavior of Washington, a different picture emerges.

From the Cold War era to the present day, US policies have often been guided more by self-interest and geopolitical calculations than by any genuine commitment to India’s well-being. While there have been moments of cooperation, the overall pattern suggests that the US has never truly been a consistent or trustworthy friend to India.

Cold War Years: Strategic Indifference and Opposition

In the early years after India’s independence, the US maintained a cool and often skeptical attitude toward New Delhi.

  1. Non-Alignment Misunderstood
    India’s policy of non-alignment was seen in Washington not as a sovereign choice for independence in foreign affairs, but as an unwillingness to join the US-led camp against the Soviet Union. This mistrust shaped US attitudes for decades.

  2. Alliance with Pakistan
    While India pursued a balanced foreign policy, the US embraced Pakistan as a Cold War ally, providing military aid and advanced weaponry. This directly altered the regional balance against India and emboldened Pakistan in its confrontations with New Delhi.

  3. 1965 and 1971 Wars
    During the 1965 Indo–Pakistan War, US-supplied arms were used by Pakistan against India. In the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Washington openly tilted towards Pakistan despite reports of genocide in East Pakistan, even sending the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier into the Bay of Bengal — a move widely interpreted as a show of force against India.

Economic and Nuclear Discrimination

The US’s treatment of India in economic and technological spheres also reflected a lack of genuine friendship.

  • Opposition to India’s Nuclear Program
    After India’s peaceful nuclear test in 1974, the US led global efforts to isolate India technologically, pushing for export controls and sanctions while ignoring Pakistan’s clandestine weapons development during the 1980s.
  • Technology Denial Regimes
    For decades, India faced US-led restrictions on high-tech imports, from space technology to computing systems, under the guise of non-proliferation concerns.

Selective Engagement After the Cold War

Following the Soviet collapse, US–India relations saw a thaw, but this engagement was still driven by American strategic needs:

  • In the 1990s, Washington’s focus was on preventing nuclear proliferation in South Asia, often pressuring India more than Pakistan.
  • The 1998 Indian nuclear tests were met with immediate US sanctions — despite India’s legitimate security concerns.

It was only after the US realized India’s potential as a market and counterweight to China in the 2000s that relations began to deepen.

Post-9/11 Era: Partnership with Conditions

After 9/11, the US called India a strategic partner, especially in counterterrorism and the Indo-Pacific strategy. But simultaneously:

  • Pakistan, a key US ally in the War on Terror, continued receiving billions in aid and military equipment, much of which strengthened its position against India.
  • The US often took a “both-sides” approach during India–Pakistan crises, asking India to show restraint even in the face of cross-border terrorism.
  • Trade disputes emerged, with Washington revoking India’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits and raising tariffs on certain Indian goods.

Trade and Economic Pressures

Despite praising India’s growth, the US has not hesitated to apply economic pressure when Indian policies do not align with American corporate or strategic interests:

  • Pressuring India on intellectual property rules to favor US pharmaceutical giants.
  • Targeting Indian IT services under the pretext of protecting American jobs.
  • Criticizing Indian tariffs while maintaining its own protectionist barriers.

Recent Examples of Strategic Self-Interest

Even in the current era of closer ties, the US’s actions show that its friendship is conditional:

  1. Sanctions Threats Over Russian Defense Deals – Despite India’s security needs, Washington has threatened sanctions over India’s purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems.
  2. Mixed Signals on China – While encouraging India to counter China in the Indo-Pacific, the US remains cautious about fully supporting India in the event of a border conflict.
  3. Human Rights and Political Pressure – Washington selectively raises concerns about India’s domestic policies when it suits broader foreign policy narratives, while ignoring similar issues in allied nations.

Why the US Acts This Way

The US foreign policy approach is guided by realpolitik — nations act in their own interest first. For Washington:

  • India is a Partner, Not an Equal — Seen as useful in balancing China, but also as a competitor in markets, technology, and influence.
  • South Asia’s Balance of Power — Maintaining Pakistan’s relevance ensures India remains regionally focused and less able to challenge US global dominance.
  • Economic Leverage — Trade tools, tariffs, and market access negotiations are used to extract concessions.

Lessons for India

India must recognize that:

  • US friendship is transactional, tied to temporary convergence of interests.
  • Long-term strategic autonomy requires diverse partnerships — with Europe, Russia, ASEAN, Africa, and the Global South.
  • Economic strength and technological leadership are the true safeguards against external pressure.

Conclusion

The United States has, at times, cooperated closely with India — in defense, technology, and diplomacy. But history shows that it has never been an unconditionally good friend. Strategic calculations, not shared ideals alone, have driven US policy toward India.

India’s challenge is to engage the US where interests align, resist where they do not, and continue building independent capacities. In the realm of international politics, permanent friendships are rare; what lasts is a nation’s ability to stand on its own terms.


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