India-U.S. ties are now passing through agni pariksha (trial by fire). That’s how former Deputy NSA Pankaj Saran would describe the steep and sharp deterioration in the atmospherics of the relationship.
The party is over and now is a critical point in bilateral relations, he told StratNews Global. But he’s happy that there are signs of India maturing as an actor on the global stage.
Why India-U.S. Ties Soured
A bilateral trade deal that was being negotiated remains stuck. Is that the issue? A trade deal is ready and is on the table, which meets the satisfaction of U.S. negotiators, says Saran.
Russian Oil Non-issue?
Saran rubbishes Russian oil as a reason for the strain in India-U.S. ties. He junks the two allegations made by Americans. One, that India’s oil imports are fuelling Russia’s war in Ukraine. And second, India is profiteering from the oil transactions. He lays bare the facts:
- The price cap on Russian oil was set by the West, not by India
- Nor did India ask Russia for a discounted price
Saran asks pointed questions too:
- If buying Russia oil is an issue, why hasn’t the U.S. or Europe sanctioned it?
- And what happened to 60 years of Russian energy imports by the Europeans?
- Was the Russian war machine built in the last three-odd years?
Accusing India of feeding the war in Ukraine is a joke; it’s like comparing cents with big money, says Saran. “If anyone thinks they can bring Putin to his knees by stopping Indian oil imports, it’s not happening.”
Saran attributes the current impasse in India-U.S. ties to a mix of several factors: Operation Sindoor, Pakistan, Trump’s Nobel ambitions and personal issues at the leadership level.
He finds it bizarre that instead of sanctioning Pakistan for promoting and instigating terrorism against India, the U.S. is equating it with India, the victim of terrorism. “I think the understanding of the whole dynamic is flawed.”
Wake-up Call
The current state of India-U.S. ties is actually a wake-up call, argues Saran. “Don’t depend on anyone. Friendship is good but be open-eyed about it. Don’t believe that solutions to all your problems lie in one capital or the other.”
