The Homeland Security Dialogue between India and USA officials took place recently, marking a significant event in the international relations scene. This dialogue was initiated back in 2010, following the signing of the India-US counter-terrorism initiative. The first Homeland Security Dialogue was held in May 2011. The most recent dialogue was a virtual affair, necessitated by the re-establishment of the Homeland Security Dialogue in March 2021 under US President Joe Biden’s administration, after having been discontinued by former US President Donald Trump.
Under this dialogue, six sub-groups have been formed to handle areas such as illicit finance and financial fraud; cybersecurity; megacity policing; global supply chain, transportation, and port security; capacity building, and technology upgradation.
Overview of India-US Relations
Shared democratic values and increasing convergence of interests have led to the development of a ‘global strategic partnership’ between India and the USA. This partnership was further cemented with the issue of a Delhi Declaration of Friendship in 2015 and the adoption of a Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.
A key component of the bilateral relationship was the civil nuclear cooperation agreement signed in October 2008. Moreover, as part of the Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE), the two countries established the Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Centre (JCERDC) and launched the India-US Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership in 2021.
Defence Cooperation: A Major Pillar of India-US Relations
In recent years, defence has emerged as a major aspect of the India-US strategic partnership. This new focus was formalised with the signing of the ‘New Framework for India-US Defence Relations’ in 2005, which was updated for another decade in 2015. Several significant defence pacts have been signed between the two nations.
Notably, India and the US have established the QUAD alliance along with Japan and Australia, seen as a strategic counter to China in the Indo-Pacific region. The alliance emphasises collaboration and mutual support, highlighted by the Malabar exercise in November 2020.
Alongside this, India now has access to American bases from Djibouti in Africa to Guam in the Pacific and can utilise advanced US defence communication technology. There are also four foundational defence agreements between the two nations: BECA, GSOMIA, LEMOA, and COMCASA.
Trade And Economic Ties
The US is one of India’s largest trading partners and a key destination for Indian exports. It surpassed Mauritius in 2020-21 to become the second-largest source of foreign direct investment into India. However, trade relations have seen some tensions, with the previous US government ending India’s special trade status and imposing several bans, which were met with Indian retaliatory bans on 28 US products. However, the current US administration has allowed these bans to expire.
Collaboration in Science and Technology
India and the US enjoy a robust partnership in the realm of science and technology as well. A prime example is the joint microwave remote sensing satellite for Earth observation, named NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), under development by the Indian Space Research Organisation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The Indian Diaspora in the USA
The Indian diaspora in the US is growing, making significant contributions across various sectors. Vice-President Kamala Harris, for instance, has strong Indian connections.
Looking Ahead
The stage is set for expanding the partnership between India and the US, with both sides looking at challenges emerging in the Indo-Pacific, particularly relating to China. Considerable potential exists for boosting bilateral trade, given the rising anti-China sentiments in both countries.
