India-US relations in a Nutshell | World Affairs Files

From 1947 to 1991, the relationship between the U.S. and India was complicated from a strategic point of view. Even though the two countries shared values like democracy, liberalism, and pluralism, they couldn’t get along. India has been very wary of the US since the 1960s. After the Sino-Indian border war, there was a short time when the US and India worked together strategically. From 1962 to 1965, India got full military and economic support from the US against China.
During the Kennedy administration, the US saw India as an important ally and a way to stop Communist China from taking over. During the Sino-Indian conflict of 1962, Kennedy strongly backed India and called China’s invasion a clear act of aggression. He even helped India get a permanent seat at the UN.
When India got its independence on August 15, 1947, the US and the USSR were almost at opposite ends of the world, and the Cold War had just started. India stayed neutral because it was a new country and couldn’t choose a side.

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