The India-US Relations is a bilateral, multifaceted Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership (CGSP) between the world's two largest democracies. Diplomatic relations were formally established in 1947 following India's independence. The relationship's initial decades were marked by "estrangement" due to India's policy of non-alignment and the US-Pakistan strategic alignment during the Cold War. A significant shift began after India's economic reforms in 1991 and the end of the Cold War, leading to a strategic convergence.
The partnership is mechanism-driven, with the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue—co-chaired by the Foreign and Defence Ministers of India and the US Secretaries of State and Defense—serving as the apex forum for political, military, and strategic issues. Key mechanisms include the signing of foundational military agreements like the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) in 2020, which facilitates the sharing of sensitive geospatial data. The US designated India a Major Defense Partner in 2016, granting access to defense technology similar to a treaty ally. The relationship connects to multilateral frameworks like the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) with Japan and Australia, and the I2U2 Group (India, Israel, UAE, US), reflecting shared interests in a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Recently, the relationship has seen both acceleration and tension. The two nations are advancing cooperation through the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), focusing on space, semiconductors, and AI. However, trade tensions have recently emerged, with the US imposing tariffs on Indian exports, partly over India's continued purchase of Russian oil. This led to an Interim Trade Agreement in February 2026 to ease some tariffs, though talks on a broader trade deal remain unresolved. India's commitment to strategic autonomy and its defense ties with Russia remain a persistent point of divergence.