Is India's Increasing Closeness With US Dangerous? How Does It Affects China!

Modi plays a triangular balancing game with the US and China. Will he succeed?

-  Pranay Sharma

Despite recognizing the pre-eminence of the US on the world stage, Indian leaders have traditionally been wary of getting too close to America. Successive governments have tried to forge strong bonds with Washington—a desire that became more evident in the post-Cold War period—but without compromising on their pursuit of an independent foreign policy, maintaining equally strong bonds with other major powers. But as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for next week’s visit to the US (June 7-8), his fourth in two years and second to Washington this year, the unprecedented bonhomie in Indo-US relations has begun to both encourage and bother many people, within and outside the country. What’s driving this closeness? What are its implications for India, the region and beyond?

Warming India-US ties

Modi has been the first Indian PM to visit the US thrice and hold as many bilateral meetings with an American president

India’s defence cooperation with the US has increased significantly under the Modi government

Ending its past reluctance, India signed the Logistics Assistance Agreement with the US that will bring the two navies closer

India has increased its engagements with Japan and other US allies in Asia, seen largely as a move against China

The US Congress is seriously considering a move to give India the status of a NATO-like ally to indicate their growing closeness

The downside of the closeness

US has not yet come out in support of India’s position in its boundary dispute with China—there is no guarantee it will do so in future

The Sino-Indian boundary has been quiet for years unlike the one with Pakistan. Renewed tension can also make it active.

India’s decision to host Chinese dissidents could lead Beijing to host and encourage similar anti-Indian forces within China