India’s relation with United States of America, Russia, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Maldives and Middle East Countries.

India’s relation with United States of America, Russia, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Maldives and Middle East Countries.

’s relation with United States of America

Political Relations:

The frequency of high-level visits and exchanges between and the U.S. has gone up significantly of late. Prime Minister Modi visited the U.S. on 26-30 September 2014; he held meetings with President Obama, members of the U.S. Congress and political leaders, including from various States and cities in the U.S., and interacted with members of President Obama’s Cabinet. He also reached out to the captains of the U.S. commerce and industry, the American civil society and think tanks, and the n-American community. A Vision Statement and a Joint Statement were issued during the visit.

Civil Nuclear Cooperation:

The bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement was finalized in July 2007 and signed in October 2008. During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the U.S. in September 2014, the two sides set up a Contact Group for advancing the full and timely implementation of the -U.S. Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, and to resolve pending issues. Culminating a decade of partnership on civil nuclear issues, the two sides have started the preparatory work on site in for six AP 1000 reactors to be built by Westinghouse. Once completed, the project would be among the largest of its kind. The Nuclear Power Corporation of Ltd, and Westinghouse are in talks toward finalizing the contractual arrangements, and addressing related issues.

Defence Cooperation:

Defence relationship has emerged as a major pillar of -U.S. strategic partnership with the signing of ‘New Framework for -U.S. Defense Relations’ in 2005 and the resulting intensification in defence trade, joint exercises, personnel exchanges, collaboration and cooperation in maritime security and counter-piracy, and exchanges between each of the three services. The Defence Framework Agreement was updated and renewed for another 10 years in June 2015.

Aggregate worth of defence acquisition from U.S. Defence has crossed over US$ 13 billion. and the United States have launched a Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) aimed at simplifying technology transfer policies and exploring possibilities of co-development and co-production to invest the defence relationship with strategic value.

Counter-terrorism and internal security:

 Cooperation in counter-terrorism has seen considerable progress with intelligence sharing, information exchange, operational cooperation, counter-terrorism technology and equipment. -U.S. Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Initiative was signed in 2010 to expand collaboration on counter-terrorism, information sharing and capacity building. A Homeland Security Dialogue was announced during President Obama’s visit to in November 2010 to further deepen operational cooperation, counter-terrorism technology transfers and capacity building. Two rounds of this Dialogue have been held, in May 2011 and May 2013, with six Sub-Groups steering cooperation in specific areas. In December 2013, -U.S Police Chief Conference on homeland security was organized in New Delhi. Police Commissioners from ‘s top four metropolis paid a study visit to the U.S. to learn the practices of megacities policing in the U.S. in November 2015. The two sides have agreed on a joint work plan to counter the threat of Improvised Explosives Device (IED).

Trade and Economic:

 -US bilateral trade in goods and services increased from $104 billion in 2014 to $114 billion in 2016. Two-way merchandise trade stood at $66.7 billion. Of this, ’s exports of goods to the US were valued at $46 billion and ’s imports of goods from US were valued at $21.7 billion. -US trade in services stood at $47.2 billion. Both countries have made a commitment to facilitate actions necessary for increasing the bilateral trade to $500 billion. The bilateral merchandise trade is showing an encouraging growth trajectory in 2017.

-Russia Relations

Russia has been a longstanding and time-tested partner for . Development of -Russia relations has been a key pillar of ‘s foreign policy. Since the signing of “Declaration on the -Russia Strategic Partnership” in October 2000 (during the visit of Russian President H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin to ), -Russia ties have acquired a qualitatively new character with enhanced levels of cooperation in almost all areas of the bilateral relationship including political, security, trade and economy, defence, science and technology, and culture. Under the Strategic Partnership, several institutionalized dialogue mechanisms operate at both political and official levels to ensure regular interaction and follow up on cooperation activities.

Defence and Security Cooperation

has longstanding and wide-ranging cooperation with Russia in the field of defence. -Russia military technical cooperation has evolved from a buyer – seller framework to one involving joint research, development and production of advanced defence technologies and systems. The two countries also hold exchanges and training exercises between their armed forces annually. The joint military exercise „Indra 2016‟ was held in the Ussuriysk District in Vladivostok from 22 September -02 October 2016. The annual bilateral naval exercise „Indra – Navy‟ took place off the coast of Vishakhapatnam on 14-21 December 2016.

Economic Relations

Making the economic partnership a strong pillar of the bilateral partnership like other areas of cooperation between and Russia is a key priority for both governments. In December 2014, the leaders of the two countries set a target of US $ 30 billion bilateral trade by 2025. According to Russian Federal Customs Service data, bilateral trade during in 2016 amounted to US$ 7.71 billion (decline of 1.5 % over 2015), with n exports amounting to US$ 2.39 billion and imports from Russia amounting to US$ 5.32 billion.

Nuclear Energy

Russia is an important partner for in the area of peaceful use of nuclear energy. It recognizes as a country with advanced nuclear technology with an impeccable non-proliferation record. In December 2014, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Russia‟s Rosatom signed the Strategic Vision for strengthening cooperation in peaceful uses of atomic energy between and Russia. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is being built in with Russian cooperation.

China Relation

Despite lingering suspicions remaining from the 1962 Sino-n War, the 1967 Nathu La and Cho La incidents, and continuing boundary disputes over Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh, Sino-n relations have improved gradually since 1988. Both countries have sought to reduce tensions along the frontier, expand trade and cultural ties, and normalise relations. Sino-n relations suffered a brief setback in May 1998 when the n Defence minister justified the country’s nuclear tests by citing potential threats from the PRC. However, in June 1999, during the Kargil crisis, then-External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh visited Beijing and stated that did not consider China a threat. . By 2001, relations between and the PRC were on the mend, and the two sides handled the move from Tibet to of the 17th Karmapa in January 2000 with delicacy and tact. In 2003, formally recognised Tibet as a part of China, and China recognised Sikkim as a formal part of in 2004.

Since 2004, the economic rise of both China and has also helped forge closer relations between the two. Sino-n trade reached US$65.47 billion in 2013–14, making China the single largest trading partner of . The increasing economic reliance between and China has also bought the two nations closer politically, with both and China eager to resolve their boundary dispute. They have also collaborated on several issues ranging from WTO’s Doha round in 2008 to regional free trade agreement. Similar to Indo-US nuclear deal, and China have also agreed to co-operate in the field of civilian nuclear energy. However, China’s economic interests have clashed with those of . Both the countries are the largest Asian investors in Africa and have competed for control over its large natural resources.

Relations between and Pakistan 

and Pakistan are neighbors with a history of tensions between one another. Since the independence of , and then Pakistan, these two states have been at odds over issues that include the Kashmir conflict. The conflict has not intensified recently, but given that both and Pakistan have nuclear weapons, any heightened conflict between these two countries is cause for even greater alarm; there have been genuine fears that these two states would possibly fight a nuclear conflict. Therefore, diplomats have worked to reduce -Pakistan tensions over Kashmir.

-Pakistan Relations and Nuclear Weapons

Given the conflict over Kashmir, there are always concerns that a war between these two states could escalate because of nuclear weapons. Historically, there have been questions as to whether either side would actually be willing to use such powerful and dangerous weapons, knowing the implications of such an act. However, there is at least some evidence to suggest that the worsening -Pakistani relations over Kashmir have led leaders to at least consider the possibility of a nuclear attack.

Improving -Pakistan Relations

Given the state of conflict between these two countries, scholars and policymakers have long posited options for improved ties between and Pakistan. Some have long argued that a reduction of nuclear weapons would be one positive step in ensuring that a major conflict with such devastating tools would not be possible. Others have suggested that cooperation is what is necessary not only to prevent a war, but also to build strong states and institutions. The Carter Center (2003) has argued that positive cases between and Pakistan can provide a path to further cooperation initiatives; “Energy trade is one area of considerable promise. could consume as much energy as it could receive from any and all of its neighbors. Energy relationships create dependency relationships, almost by definition. And and Pakistan’s experience with the Indus Water Treaty is one of the rare positive examples of prudence and creativity in the otherwise troubled bilateral relationship” 

‘s relations with Bangladesh

‘s relations with Bangladesh could not have been stronger because of ‘s unalloyed support for independence and opposition against Pakistan in 1971. During the independence war, many refugees fled to . When the struggle of resistance matured in November 1971, also intervened militarily and may have helped bring international attention to the issue through Indira Gandhi’s visit to Washington, D.C. Afterwards furnished relief and reconstruction aid. extended recognition to Bangladesh prior to the end of the war in 1971 (the second country to do so after Bhutan) and subsequently lobbied others to follow suit. also withdrew its military from the land of Bangladesh when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman requested Indira Gandhi to do so during the latter’s visit to Dhaka in 1972.

In recent years has increasingly complained that Bangladesh does not secure its border properly. It fears an increasing flow of poor Bangladeshis and it accuses Bangladesh of harbouring n separatist groups like ULFA and alleged terrorist groups. The Bangladesh government has refused to accept these allegations.

  and Bangladesh also have free trade agreement in