Why was there and why does there continue to be a bad relationship between India and the United States?

Question

It seems that since their independence and partition, India has not enjoyed very amicable relations with the United States. Nehru's visit to the US was considered a failed gesture, Nixon and Indra Ghandi didn't like each other. The Krishna Menon statesman was not very well thought of by American foreign policy makers. India was instrumental in the non aligned movement during the Cold War, to the dismay of the US. The country even purchased weapons from the Soviet Union.

Granted, the United States and india have never been drawn into open conflict, but the relations are bad. Why have these two nations not gotten along? Was the US viewed as a 2nd Anglo-Saxon empire of sorts? Was it because the US tried to be Pakistan's friend?

Granted, the United States and india have never been drawn into open conflict, but the relations are bad.  Why have these two nations not gotten along?  Was the US viewed as a 2nd Anglo-Saxon empire of sorts?  Was it because the US tried to be Pakistan's friend?

? · Accepted Answer

I don't believe its nessecerilly anything. India is a large country and a major force but still hasn't emerged as a superpower yet. India has always watches the US from a distance lumbering around the planet waging its small wars and forcing democracy down countries throats. It's nit that India doesn't like the US but may be that the US focuses more on other countries. It could be the US close ties with Pakistan too. I don't think the average Indian person dislikes Americans maybe it just the government. India knew that Britain lost its superpower status once it lost India and its African and southeast Asian colonies. They watched the US and USSR emerge from the rubble of WWII as sole superpowers and battle it out. India declined to pick sides so that obviously soured US relations back in the day.

Davros · Answer

It's true that for whatever reason America likes India rather more than India likes America. I'm not totally sure on the reasons though. It can't all be due to the non-aligned movement, especially not today. Also I don't think it's a racial aversion to anyone associated with the British because Anglo-Indian relations are and pretty much have been fine since independence.
The alliance with Pakistan is perhaps a major factor here. India still hates Pakistan and the US close association with them could have been poisoning the water.

But the honest answer is I really don't know the true reasons behind it as I don't know enough on the subject. It seems to me the modern India isn't too fussy about where it does business, and I don't think historical issues would stop it forming better ties with the US.

ammianus · Answer

India was actively pro Soviet Union and actively anti US throughout the Cold War.This was why US made friends with Pakistan,to counterbalance the the India stance towards the Soviet Union,and to have a friend in the region.

The former made US suspicious of India,and the latter made India suspicious of US.

Hence the mutual dislike today.

The former made US suspicious of India,and the latter made India suspicious of US.

Hence the mutual dislike today.

Anonymous · Answer

The U.S. benefits from India through outsourcing and vice-versa.

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Why was there and why does there continue to be a bad relationship between India and the United States?

4 Answers