Indo-U.S. relations is a concept representing the bilateral relationship between the Republic of India and the United States of America, which has evolved into a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1947 following India's independence. The relationship was initially strained during the Cold War due to India's non-alignment and the U.S.'s strategic alignment with Pakistan through the Baghdad Pact. The end of the Cold War and converging interests, particularly concerning the rise of China, led to a closer partnership. The relationship is now a broad-based strategic partnership grounded in shared democratic values and cooperation across defense, technology, and trade.
The primary mechanism for high-level engagement is the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between the foreign and defense ministers of both nations. Defense cooperation is underpinned by four foundational agreements, the last of which was the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), signed on October 27, 2020, which enables the sharing of sensitive geospatial data. Other key agreements include the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) and the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA). The U.S.–India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement of 2005 was a strategic milestone that normalized India's access to advanced technology.
The partnership connects to the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) with Japan and Australia, which focuses on the Indo-Pacific region. Technological collaboration is advanced through the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), which covers areas like AI and semiconductors. Economically, bilateral merchandise trade crossed $119 billion in 2021–22. The relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in 2020. A recent change includes the signing of a 10-year Defence Framework Pact (2025–2035) and an Interim Agreement on reciprocal trade in February 2026.