India: America’s Most Important Ally

America has been the pre eminent nation in the world for decades. It has been the most powerful and influential nation in the world since the end of World War 2, and the sole superpower since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. China’s rise has not yet put it on par with the US. But China is starting to challenge America’s power and influence in the world. As this challenge grows, it will become increasingly important for the US expand its network of allies. India should be front and center of that effort.

There are many reasons why courting India should be top of mind for American policy makers. First, India is a huge country, and only continuing to grow. India will soon have the largest population in the world. As India develops, their impact on the world stage will grow rapidly. India also has a rivalry with China, America’s only serious competitor on the world stage. Border disputes and Indian fear of China trying to exert its influence on it push it away from China. Aligning against China, therefore, should be natural for India. India is simply predisposed to align with the US over China. But India is also not fully in the American camp, so there is a lot of positive progress that can be made for the US in its relationship with India.

There are however some obstacles to a fuller integration of American and Indian interests. One is India’s historical friendliness to Russia and its predecessor, the Soviet Union. This friendliness is rooted in historic Russian help for India, notably in the form of supplies. Even when Russia was condemned by all nations within America’s sphere and not fully backed even by China, India was measured in their criticism of Russia. India has also long stuck to the policy of not aligning heavily with any major global powers, so as not to be subsumed within their influence. This is not something that India will throw away on a whim.

Therefore, the type of ally the US should hope to create in India cannot be the same type of ally the US has in the UK for example. The UK and other Western nations are happy to operate essentially as members of the American block, because their values and goals align much more smoothly with the US than does India’s. India cannot be expected to be a foot soldier in America’s block. Rather, the US should treat India as a partner to work with regularly.

America already has a huge advantage over China is terms of allies. And for that reason, China struggles to assert its dominance over its immediate region, while the US can wield its influence on every corner of the globe. If the US can get India firmly on its side, China will never be able to gain enough of a foothold to challenge America’s overall global influence. But this is only the case if India is regularly engaged as a pro American nation. Sensitivity to India’s history, mindset and goals is the only way for that to happen. Courting India is an important and complicated task that could take years. That is why America must start the process now.