US-India relations have undergone positive change in the last few decades. The relations have been catalysed by several bilateral initiatives, the most significant being the recently concluded US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement.
Importantly, US President Barack Obama has laid particular emphasis on the strengthening of bilateral ties. In his message to Indians on the eve of India’s 60th Republic Day, President Obama said, “It is our shared values that form the bedrock of a robust relationship across peoples and governments. Those values and ideals provide the strength that enables us to meet any challenge “.
US-India relations have indeed come a long way since the historic India visit of former US President Bill Clinton in March 2000. It was the first state visit to India by a US President in 22 years. What followed were remarkable shifts in the bilateral relations spanning the strategic and economic spheres. An outward-looking India welcomed the spirit of friendship, mindful of its own strategic and economic roles in the changing global context. The Indian Americans have played an important role in building bridges.