The growing trust shown in the defence sphere is also visible in the political-strategic relationship.
A tag line rising from the stage of Howdy Modi in NRG stadium in Houston on 22 September 2019, “Abki Baar Trump Sarkar”, misconstrued as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expression of support for the serving President, Donald Trump had created some concerns in certain quarters that Joe Biden might take it negatively if he became the POTUS. That proved unfounded; Biden Presidency ending on 6 January 2025 has been hugely transformational for India-US relations, despite long disruptions caused by the Covid pandemic. His personal chemistry with PM Modi has been remarkably positive, laced with unmistakable warmth, bonhomie and frankness. While serving as the Chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign affairs in 2006, Senator Biden is believed to have said, “my dream is that in 2022, the two closest nations in the world will be India and the United States.” To a great extent, he has lived his dream.
At Delaware, PM Modi “conveyed his appreciation for the unparalleled contributions made by President Biden in giving impetus to the India-US Partnership.” According to the MEA, today, India and the US enjoy a comprehensive global strategic partnership that covers all areas of human endeavour, driven by shared democratic values, convergence of interests and vibrant people-to-people ties.
PM Modi met President Biden the eighth time in person at the latter’s private home in Delaware in Wilmington for the last Quad summit of his Presidency on 21 September; they have also met virtually. India-US trade, showing an upswing since Obama’s Presidency, had suffered a sharp decline during the Covid restrictions, but reached an unprecedented total of US$219 billion in 2023, making the US India’s largest trading partner. This has partly happened on account of increasing defence imports from the US, whose total cost from 2008 till 2023 is estimated to be over US$25 billion. India, the largest defence importer in the world, has been diversifying its sources of supplies; while Russia still accounts for roughly 32% of Indian defence imports, the share of the US, France, Israel and South Africa has been increasing. The US has also agreed to sell 32 MQ 9B predator drones worth US$3.9 billion.
India’s imports of hydrocarbons from the US reached a figure of US$13.4 billion in 2023, making the US the fourth largest supplier. By last year, American companies have invested around US$60 billion in India, while the investment of Indian private companies in the US is estimated to be US$40 billion, which is credited to have created around 250,000 jobs.
While defence agreements such as Logistics Exchange Memorandum agreement; Communications Compatibility and Security agreement, Industrial Security agreement and Basic Exchange and cooperation agreement signed between 2016 and 2020 have enhanced significantly interaction and interoperability of communications between the militaries of the two countries and tri-services and special forces exercises and cooperation in fighting cyber-crimes have strengthened defence ties, the agreement on iCET (Emerging and critical technologies) launched in Jan 2023 will go down as the most transformational milestone of Biden’s presidency. This initiative headed by the NSAs (Jake Sullivan on the US side and Ajit Doval on the Indian side) will be the driving engine of technical cooperation in a vast range of areas: Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Technologies, Cyber, 5G, 6G, Biotech, Defence, Space, Semi-conductors and many more. Similarly, INDUS X which brings the defence startups of the two countries together will spur further the ongoing defence cooperation in coming years.
Another transformational aspect of Biden Presidency has been the degree of trust which his administration has reposed in India and its unprecedented willingness to transfer cutting edge technology. India was declared a major defence partner in December 2016 and accorded STA-1 status in August 2018 but it was only in July 2023 after PM Modi’s state visit to the US that the Biden administration notified the Congress about the MOU signed by GE Aerospace with HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics ltd) on 22 June 2023 to produce GE F414 engine in India with 80% transfer of technology. These engines will be used in India’s LCA Mark II and initial batches of AMCA. The deal worth US$1 billion is considered a big boost for India’s Make in India endeavours.
During PM Modi’s state visit, Micron had announced semiconductor assembly and test facility in Gujarat. In July 2023 Microchip announced an investment of US$300 million aimed at expanding its operations in India.
A watershed agreement was reached by PM Modi and President Biden during their bilateral discussion on 21 September for setting up the world’s first multi-material fabrication unit for semiconductors for national security. This new fabrication unit located in Jewar in Greater Noida, will make chips used in high-technology warfare. This cutting-edge technology partnership that catapults India into the select group of nations which will have the ability to make such chips on shore will involve knowledge and technology transfer, wouldn’t have been possible without the nod of the US military. If George Bush Jr is remembered for the civil nuclear agreement with India, Joe Biden will be remembered fondly for his contribution to this chip’s fabrication agreement.
The growing trust shown in defence sphere is also visible in complex political and strategic relationship. India’s persistent refusal to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 had rattled the Biden administration; some of his secretaries criticised India for being on the wrong side of history. However, slowly, they understood the rationale of India’s decision not to condemn Russia and purchase its highly discounted oil. Interestingly, a senior American Secretary felt that India’s purchase of Russian oil had helped establish international oil prices. Biden was appreciative of PM Modi’s open advice that “it wasn’t an era of war” and peace agreements couldn’t be signed on the battlefield and his visit to Ukraine in August this year.
Biden has been very supportive of India’s G-20 Presidency and was instrumental for the Unanimous Delhi Declaration of the Leaders.
Biden has been critical of China’s aggression in Galwan valley; the US had helped India with satellite imagery and in other ways to counter China’s threat. In his post on X, Biden said: “The United States partnership with India is stronger, closer, and more dynamic than any time in history. Prime Minister Modi, each time we sit down, I am struck by our ability to find new areas of cooperation.”
He expressed his “immense appreciation” for India’s role on the world stage, particularly PM Modi’s leadership in the G-20 and in the Global South and his commitment to strengthen the Quad to ensure a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific. President Biden also commended PM Modi for his historic visits to Poland and Ukraine, and for his message of peace and ongoing humanitarian support to Ukraine.
Biden and Modi have extended cooperation in the fight against global warming and for harnessing green energy.
Surendra Kumar is a former ambassador of India