3 Review(s)

India and the United States: From Estrangement to Natural Partnership examines the Indo-US relations since beginning of Independent India. The book gives an extensive, analytical and historical perspective of issues that unfolded and unraveled in the bilateral relationship of India and the USA. The two countries have succeeded to evade bilateral estrangement in the relationship. India and the US are now moving towards indispensable partnership in the 21 st century. The Cold War obsession has gone and historical hesitation in the relationship has largely been taken away. The two sides are building cooperation in the fields of defense, cyber security, terrorism, space, energy, etc. India is emerging a critical partner for the United States. India promises good economic opportunity for the US companies. Geopolitically India is emerging a good choice to substantiate the US interest in the Asia pacific region and over and above to check the emerging Chinese threat. However, to develop a true natural partnership the two sides need to move further in the bilateral cooperation. There is ambivalence from both the sides’ vis-à-vis cementing a true natural partnership. The US wants India to reciprocate to its concessions, while as India is still in perusal of securing its strategic autonomy. India needs to offer more openness in its both economic as well as geostrategic fields. At the same time, US needs to offer unilateral concessions without expecting quid pro quo from Indian side. Given the imbalance in the power structure between the two countries, US can afford to offer more in the relationship due to its power advantage as compared to India. Moreover, this unilateral offers will help the US to secure India’s cooperation in the all fields, therefore, is not against its interests. The book proposes that the two countries need to enlarge their understanding of each other’s concerns. There are many opportunities in the relationship. Both need to move forward and build a true natural partnership. However, US, given its power structure, needs to do more for the benefit of the relationship.