The India-US Strategic Partnership is a concept and a framework for bilateral relations, formally upgraded to a Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership in 2020. The pursuit of a "strategic partnership" began around 2004, evolving from the Cold War-era phase of "estranged democracies". A foundational step was taken in July 2005 when President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced their resolve to transform the relationship into a global partnership, aiming to align interests in defense, technology, and trade.
The partnership is a mechanism for cooperation across defense, technology, trade, and energy, grounded in shared democratic values. Key defense provisions include the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) (2016), the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) (2018), and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) (2020). These agreements enhance military interoperability and information sharing. The partnership connects to multilateral groupings like the Quad and the I2U2 Group, reflecting shared interests in a free and open Indo-Pacific. India’s foreign policy approach within this framework is guided by a doctrine of "multi-alignment," which allows it to maintain strong ties with multiple global power centers simultaneously.
The partnership has seen recent changes, including the conclusion of the India-US Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap in May 2023 and the renewal of the 10-year India-US major defence partnership framework. The relationship was formally elevated to a Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership in 2020, signifying a deepening of collaboration across all sectors.