Indo–Pacific Relations
Australia–India relations
Australia–India
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 7,692,024 km2 (6th) |
| • Water (%) | 0.76 |
| Population | |
| • 2020 estimate | 25,598,500 (51st) |
| • 2016 census | 23,401,892 |
| • Density | 3.3/km2 (236th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $1.365 trillion (19th) |
| • Per capita | $53,379 (17th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $1.376 trillion (13th) |
| • Per capita | $53,825 (10th) |
| Gini (2016) |  33.0medium · 22nd |
| HDI (2018) |  0.938very high · 6th |
Australia–India relations are the foreign relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Republic of India. Before independence, Australia and India were both part of the British Empire. Both are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. They also share political, economic, security, lingual and sporting ties. As a result of British colonisation, cricket has emerged as a strong cultural connection between the two nations, as well as the English language. Military cooperation between Australia and India includes the regular joint naval exercise AUSINDEX.
History
Prior to 1788
Prior to the colonization of Australia, there is evidence of ancient migration of Indians to Australia around 4,000 to 5,000 years ago based on DNA and language development in native Indians and Indigenous Australians according to a recent study.
During the British Empire
In the early colonies, Indians were brought to Australia as labourers and domestic workers, with migration being curtailed after federation. Gradual migration during the later years of the White Australia policy saw workers moving to Australia especially during periods of labour shortage, such as the Sikhs in Woolgoolga.
After Indian Independence
After World War II, the Australian government of Ben Chifley supported the independence of India from the British Empire to act as a frontier against communism. Later, under Robert Menzies, Australia supported the admission of India as a Republic to the Commonwealth Nations. In 1950, Menzies became the first Australian Prime Minister to visit India, where he met with the Governor-General Chakravarti Rajagopalachari and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Diplomatic relations
India first established a Trade Office in Sydney, Australia in 1941. It is currently represented by a High Commissioner in the embassy at Canberra and Consulate generals in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne. Australia has a High Commission in New Delhi, India and Consulates in Mumbai and Chennai. In early 2018, the Australian government announced that a Consulate-General in Kolkata would be established particularly to encourage business with India’s growing mining sector.
Besides both being members of the Commonwealth of Nations, both nations are founding members of the United Nations, and members of regional organisations including the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation and ASEAN Regional forum.
Australia has traditionally supported India’s position on Arunachal Pradesh, which is subject to diplomatic disputes between India and the People’s Republic of China.
Although Australia and India sometimes had divergent strategic perspectives during the Cold War, in recent years there have been much closer security relations, including a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation in 2009.
Recent visits by Indian and Australian prime ministers, such as Tony Abbott’s visit in 2014, and later the same year Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia – the latter being the first by an Indian prime minister in 28 years, and Malcolm Turnbull’s visit in 2017 have continued to progress the relationship.
Trade
Economic relations
While India was Australia’s first major trading partner with imports through the East India Company, exports from Australia to India dates back to the late 18th century and early 19th century, when coal from Sydney and horses from New South Wales were exported to India. As of 2016, bilateral trade between the two countries totaled A$21.9 billion, having grown from A$4.3 billion in 2003. Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said Australia and India’s $20 billion two-way trade was “a fraction of what we should aspire to, given the many points of intersection between our economies”.
Trade is highly skewed towards Australia. Australia mainly exports Coal, services (mainly education), vegetables for consumer consumption, gold, copper ores and concentrates, while India’s chief exports are refined petroleum, services (professional services such as outsourcing), medicaments, pearls, gems and jewelry. Over 97,000 Indian students enrolled in Australia in 2008, representing an education export of A$2 billion.In the year 2015-16 the total value of trade between Australia and India was A$19.4 billion, a significant increase over the preceding decade. Australian exports included coal, vegetables and gold, and Indian exports included refined petroleum, medicines and business services.
Uranium export to India
After a series of attempts by prime ministers of all parties John Howard, Kevin Rudd,[29] Julia Gillard,[30] and Tony Abbott[31] eventually in 2016 under Malcolm Turnbull, both Australian political parties opened the door for uranium exports,[32] with trade potentially starting in 2017.[33]
Trade agreement
A notable exception from the Australia and India relationship has been a free trade agreement. Despite warm relationships between India and Australia, a promised free trade agreement seems unlikely, with Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull suggesting after his 2017 visit with his counterpart Narendra Modi “It may be that the conclusion will be reached that the parties are too far apart to enable a deal to be reached at this time”.
Treaties
A number of treaties before Indian independence or Australian federation are still honoured, such as extradition treaties and criminal cooperation. Since Indian independence, there have been several treaties between the two countries:
Postal, Money Order and Air service treaties.
Commonwealth of Nations treaties.
Cooperative aid to other countries.
Mutual protection of Patents in 1963.
A cultural agreement in 1971.
An agreement to discuss trade in 1976.
Science and Technology cooperation agreements in 1975 and 1986.
Australia has been involved with peace keeping missions between India and Pakistan.
Taxation cooperation treaties in 1983, 1991, and 2011.
Development cooperation agreement in 1990.
Promoting and protecting investments in 2000.
Peaceful use of Nuclear Energy in 2014 in order to purchase uranium from Australia.
A Social Security agreement in 2016
Brunei–India relations
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 5,765 km2 (164th) |
| • Water (%) | 8.6 |
| Population | |
| • 2018 estimate | 442,400 (168th) |
| • Density | 72.11/km2 (134th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $36.854 billion (125th) |
| • Per capita | $83,777 (4th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $13.325 billion (124th) |
| • Per capita | $30,290 (29th) |
| HDI (2018) | 0.845 very high · 43rd |
Brunei–India relations refers to bilateral foreign relations between Brunei and India. Brunei has a high commission in New Delhi, and India has a high commission in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Bilateral relations between the countries were established on 10 May 1984. His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah made a state visit to India in September 1992. Since the discovery of oil in Brunei in 1929, a number of Indians migrated to Brunei to work in the oil and allied services sectors; later, many arrived as teachers, with some of them inter-marrying with local Bruneian peoples. According to local government’s official sources, there are around 10,000 Indians living in Brunei, as of 2013.
Five memorandums of understanding were signed by both countries on May 2008, on issues such as Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPA), Information and Communications Technology (ICT), culture, trade and space. The main export of Brunei to India is crude oil, while India has mainly exported its manpower to Brunei, both professionals and semi-skilled workers. Indian businessmen have a near monopoly in the textiles sector of Brunei, and the majority of doctors in Brunei are from India. Between 2010 and 2011, Indian exports to Brunei increased from $34.55 million to $36.77 million, and Bruneian exports to India rose from $674 million to $1266 million, which was mainly due to rise in petroleum off take by Indian petrochemical companies.
Fiji–India relations
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 18,274 km2 (151st) |
| • Water (%) | negligible |
| Population | |
| • 2018 estimate | 912,241(161st) |
| • 2017 census | 884,887 |
| • Density | 46.4/km2 (148th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2018 estimate |
| • Total | $9.112 billion |
| • Per capita | $10,251 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2018 estimate |
| • Total | $5.223 billion |
| • Per capita | $5,876 |
| Gini (2013) | 36.4 medium |
| HDI (2019) |  0.724high · 98th |
There are strong cultural links between the countries as 38 percent of Fiji’s population is of Indian descent. India has used its influence in international forums such as the Commonwealth of Nations and United Nations on behalf of ethnic Indians in Fiji, lobbying for sanctions against Fiji in the wake of the 1987 coups and the 2000 coup, both of which removed governments, one dominated and one led, by Indo-Fijians.
India–Indonesia relations
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Land | 1,904,569 km2 (14th) |
| • Water (%) | 4.85 |
| Population | |
| • 2018 estimate | 267,670,543 |
| • 2010 census | 237,641,326 (4th) |
| • Density | 138/km2 (88th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $3.740 trillion (7th) |
| • Per capita | $14,840 (89th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $1.200 trillion (16th) |
| • Per capita | $4,460(106th) |
| Gini (2017) | 38.1 medium |
India and Indonesia are among the largest democracies in the world. Both are member states of the G-20, the E7 (countries), the Non-aligned Movement, and the United Nations.
The ties between Indonesia and India date back to the times of the Ramayana, “Yawadvipa” (Java) is mentioned in India’s earliest epic, the Ramayana. Sugriva, the chief of Rama’s army dispatched his men to Yawadvipa, the island of Java, in search of Sita.
The name Indonesia derives from the Latin Indus, meaning “India”, and the Greek nesos, meaning “island”. (due to the similarity of the culture in both regions).
India and Indonesia officially opened the diplomatic relations since 3 March 1951. In 1955, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Indonesian President Sukarno were among the five founders of the Non-aligned Movement.
Throughout their shared history, most of relations between India and Indonesia were harmonious and peaceful, except during 1965 war with India. At that time, Indonesia offered to provide Pakistan with military help, and ‘to seize Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ of India so as to distract it from the Kashmir front, eventually mobilising submarines to help Pakistan. A maritime boundary agreement between the two countries was issued in New Delhi on 14 January 1977.
Economic relations
On 25 January 2011, after talks by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, India and Indonesia had signed business deals worth billions of dollars and set an ambitious target of doubling trade over the next five years.
India also has further economic ties with Indonesia through its free trade agreement with ASEAN, of which Indonesia is a member.
The two countries target to achieve bilateral trade of $25 billion by 2015, with cumulative Indian investments of $20 billion in Indonesia.
Historically, Indonesian archipelago was heavily influenced by dharmic civilization of India. For example, Ramayana is a major theme in Indonesian dance drama traditions, especially in Java and Bali.
The cultural ties still continue, with popular Indonesian Dangdut music displaying the influence of Hindustani musics very popular within the people of Indonesia especially middle-class to lower-class people that enjoy the tabla-beat music. Bollywood films and music are also popular in Indonesia. To promote Indian culture in Indonesia, the Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Centre was established in Jakarta in 1989, featuring a library and providing lessons on Indian culture, as well as promoting art such as Yoga, Indian music and dance.
India–Japan relations
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 377,975 km2 (61st) |
| • Water (%) | 3.55 |
| Population | |
| • 2019 estimate | 126,150,000 (11th) |
| • 2015 census | 127,094,745 |
| • Density | 334/km2 (24th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $5.747 trillion(4th) |
| • Per capita | $44,227 (28th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $5.154 trillion (3rd) |
| • Per capita | $40,846 (22nd) |
| Gini (2011) |  37.9medium · 78th |
| HDI (2018) | 0.915 very high · 19th |
India-Japan relations have always been strong. India has culturally influenced Japan through Buddhism. During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army helped Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army. Relations have remained warm since India’s independence, despite Japan imposing sanctions on India after the 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests (the sanctions were removed in 2001). Japanese companies, like Sony, Toyota, and Honda, have manufacturing facilities in India, and with the growth of the Indian economy, India is a big market for Japanese firms. The most prominent Japanese company to have a big investment in India is automobiles giant Suzuki which is in partnership with Indian automobiles company Maruti Suzuki, the largest car manufacturer in India. Honda was also a partner in “Hero Honda”, one of the largest motor cycle sellers in the world (the companies split in 2011)
Economic
In August 2000, the Japanese Prime Minister visited India. At this meeting, Japan and India agreed to establish “Japan-India Global Partnership in the 21st Century.” Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee visited Japan in December, 2001, where both Prime Ministers issued “Japan-India Joint Declaration.” In April, 2005, Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi visited India and signed Joint Statement “Japan-India Partnership in the New Asian Era: Strategic Orientation of Japan-India Global Partnership.”
Japan is currently India’s fourth largest source of foreign direct investment.
In October 2008, Japan signed an agreement with India under which it would provide the latter a low-interest loan worth US$4.5 billion to construct a railway project between Delhi and Mumbai. This is the single largest overseas project being financed by Japan and reflected growing economic partnership between the two nations. India is also one of the only three countries in the world with whom Japan has a security pact. As of March 2006, Japan was the third largest investor in India.
India and Japan signed an agreement in December 2015 to build a bullet train line between Mumbai and Ahmedabad using Japan’s Shinkansen technology, with a loan from Japan of £12bn at 0.1% interest rate.
2016 nuclear deal
In November 2016, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a three-day visit to Japan signed a deal with his counterpart Shinzo Abe on nuclear energy. The deal took six years to negotiate, delayed in part by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. This is the first time that Japan signed such deal with a non-signatory of Non-Proliferation Treaty. The deal gives Japan the right to supply nuclear reactors, fuel and technology to India. This deal aimed to help India build the six nuclear reactors in southern India, increasing nuclear energy capacity ten-fold by 2032.
Development
In August 2017, the two countries announced the establishment of the Japan-India Coordination Forum (JICF) for Development of North-Eastern Region, described by India as “a coordination forum to identify priority development areas of cooperation for development” of northeast India. The forum will focus on strategic projects aimed at improving connectivity, roads, electric infrastructure, food processing, disaster management, and promoting organic farming and tourism in northeast India.
India–Laos relations
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 237,955 km2 (82nd) |
| • Water (%) | 2 |
| Population | |
| • Estimate | 7,061,507 (103rd) |
| • 2015 census | 7,096,376 6,492,228 |
| • Density | 26.7/km2 (151st) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $58.329 billion |
| • Per capita | $8,458 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $20.153 billion |
| • Per capita | $2,670 (131st) |
| Gini (2012) | 36.4 medium |
| HDI (2018) | 0.604 medium · 140th |
India–Laos relations are bilateral relations between South Asian country India and South East Asian country Laos. Diplomatic relations between two nations were established in February 1956. First Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru visited Laos in 1954 while first President of India Rajendra Prasad visited Laos in 1956. India considers Laos as strategically important in accordance with China’s growing land-reclamation activities in the South China Sea. Laos has been supportive to India’s efforts to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Economic ties
In 2013 at 7th “India-Lao Joint Commission Meeting” (JMC) India agrees to provide $66.15 million to Laos for irrigation and hydro power projects. This includes 4 irrigation projects in 3 provinces of Laos in addition to extension of Nam Boun-2 hydro power plant.
Agreements
There has been several agreements signed between India and Laos in last decade regarding issues related to science & technology, trade and culture.
India will spend $4.11 million over 8 years for restoration of world heritage site of Laos at Vat Phou as per MoU signed on 2007. Project has been started on 2009.
In 2010 visit of Indian President Pratibha Patil, a “Cultural Exchange Programme” for the year 2011–13 was signed between 2 nations.
As per Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Agreement, since 1994, “Indian Army Training Team” conducts training sessions for Lao defence forces in some basic tactics along with English language and computers.
Bilateral trade
Metals, ores, machinery, electronic equipment, pharmaceuticals and timber are the main products traded between two nations. In 2008–09 bilateral trade between two nations was just $9.52 million which saw rapid growth in 2009–10 with trade of $37 million. However trade was again decreased in 2010–11 with $13.33 million. Since then trade was rapidly increased again to $167.49 million in 2012–13.
India–Malaysia relations
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 330,803 km2 (66th) |
| • Water (%) | 0.3 |
| Population | |
| • August 2019 estimate | 32,772,100(42nd) |
| • 2010 census | 28,334,135 |
| • Density | 92/km2 (116th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $1.074 trillion (25th) |
| • Per capita | $32,501 (41st) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $373 billion (33rd) |
| • Per capita | $11,338 (62nd) |
| Gini (2015) | 41 medium |
| HDI (2018) | 0.804 very high · 61st |
Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations, Asian Union and G15. India and Malaysia are also connected by various cultural and historical ties that date back to antiquity. The two countries are on excellently friendly terms with each other seeing as Malaysia is home to a strong concentration of Indian immigrants. Mahathir Mohamad, the fourth and longest serving Prime Minister of Malaysia has Indian ancestry. On trade front their bilateral trade volume stands at $10.5 billion and is poised to reach $25 billion by 2020.
Economic relations
From 2000–2013, Malaysia is the 19th largest investor in India with cumulative FDI inflows valued at US$618.37 million. More than US$6 billion Malaysian investments also come in the form of telecommunications, healthcare, banking and construction projects. Trade between the two countries has increased from just US$0.6 billion in 1992 to US$13.32 billion in 2012. Beside that, Indian industrial, IT and healthcare companies also investing in Malaysia along with around 150,000 Indians (including 10,000 Indian expatriates) skilled and semi-skilled workers been employed in the country in the sectors of IT, manufacturing and banking. Malaysian companies as well participating in many infrastructure projects across different Indian states.
In 2017, India and Malaysia signed a new business deal amounting to U$36 billion with the exchange of 31 business memorandum of understanding (MoUs), the largest in the history of economic relations between the two countries. There is also a Malaysia India Business Council.
In 2020, following comments from Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaking in opposition to the revocation of Kashmir’s special status and the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act, India imposed restrictions on Malaysian palm oil imports.
India-New Zealand relations
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 268,021 km2 (75th) |
| • Water (%) | 1.6 |
| Population | |
| • January 2020 estimate | 4,956,060 (120th) |
| • 2018 census | 4,699,755 |
| • Density | 18.1/km2 (203rd) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2018 estimate |
| • Total | $199 billion |
| • Per capita | $40,266 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2018 estimate |
| • Total | $206 billion |
| • Per capita | $41,616 |
| Gini (2014) | 33.0 medium · 22nd |
| HDI (2018) | 0.921 very high · 14th |
India–New Zealand relations were cordial but not extensive after Indian independence. More recently, New Zealand has shown interest in extending ties with India due to India’s impressive GDP growth.
The countries set up a Joint Trade Committee in 1983 and have had discussions on a free trade agreement either bilaterally or through the East Asian Summit, but this has not emerged due to disagreements over agricultural subsidies. There is also some educational cooperation, with around 23,000 Indian students studying in New Zealand.
Defence cooperation has been more limited, but there have been joint naval exercises, and Indian and New Zealand troops have served together in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Kosovo and Sudan.
Pranab Mukherjee became the first Indian President to visit New Zealand in August 2016. 7 November The government of India notified the third protocol between India and New Zealand for avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.
India–North Korea relations
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 120,540 km2 (97th) |
| • Water (%) | 0.11 |
| Population | |
| • 2018 estimate | 25,549,604 (52nd) |
| • 2008 census | 24,052,231 |
| • Density | 212/km2 (65th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2014 estimate |
| • Total | $40 billion |
| • Per capita | $1,800 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2017 estimate |
| • Total | $30 billion |
| • Per capita | $1,300 |
India and North Korea have growing trade and diplomatic relations. India maintains a fully functioning embassy in Pyongyang, and North Korea has an embassy in New Delhi. India has said that it wants the “reunification” of Korea.
India-Papua New Guinea Relations
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 462,840 km2 (54th) |
| • Water (%) | 2 |
| Population | |
| • 2018 estimate | 8,606,323 (101st) |
| • 2011 census | 7,275,324 |
| • Density | 15/km2 (201st) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $32.382 billion (124th) |
| • Per capita | $3,764 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $21.543 billion (110th) |
| • Per capita | $2,504 |
| Gini (2009) | 41.9 medium |
| HDI (2018) |  0.543low · 155th |
India and Papua New Guinea established relations in 1975, following PNG’s independence from Australia. Since 1975, relations have grown between the two nations. India maintains a High Commission in Port Moresby while Papua New Guinea maintains a High Commission in New Delhi In the 2010 Fiscal Year, Trade between the two nations grew to US$239 Million. PNG has sent numerous military officers and students to be trained and educated in India’s academies and universities respectively. In recent years, India and PNG have signed a Economic Partnership Agreement, allowing India to further invest into PNG’s infrastructure, telecommunications and educational institutions.
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 300,000 km2 (72nd) |
| • Water (%) | 0.61 (inland waters) |
| • Land | 298,170 |
| Population | |
| • 2015 census | 100,981,437(13th) |
| • Density | 336/km2(47th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2020 estimate |
| • Total | $1.110 trillion (27th) |
| • Per capita | $10,094 (112th (2019)) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2020 estimate |
| • Total | $383 billion (32nd) |
| • Per capita | $3,484 (125th (2019)) |
| Gini (2015) | 44.4 medium · 44th |
| HDI (2018) | 0.712 high · 106th |
Through the Srivijaya and Majapahit empires, Hindu influence has been visible in Philippine history from the 10th to 14th centuries. During the 18th century, there was robust trade between Manila and the Coromandel Coast of Bengal, involving Philippine exports of tobacco, silk, cotton, indigo, sugar cane and coffee.
Formal diplomatic relations between Philippines and India were established on 16 November 1949. The first Philippine envoy to India was the late Foreign Secretary Narciso Ramos. Seven years after India’s independence in 1947, the Philippines and India signed a Treaty of Friendship on 11 July 1952 in Manila to strengthen the friendly relations existing between the two countries. Soon after, the Philippine Legation in New Delhi was established and then elevated to an embassy. However, due to foreign policy differences as a result of the bipolar alliance structure of the Cold War, the development of bilateral relations was stunted. It was only in 1976 that relations started to normalise when Aditya Birla, one of India’s successful industrialists, met with then President Ferdinand E. Marcos to explore possibilities of setting up joint ventures in the Philippines.
Today, like India, the Philippines is the leading voice-operated business process outsourcing (BPO) source in terms of revenue (US$5.7) and number of people (500,000) employed in the sector. In partnership with the Philippines, India has 20 IT/BPO companies in the Philippines. Philippines-India bilateral trade stood at US$986.60 million in 2009. In 2004 it was US$600 million. Both countries aim to reach US$1 billion by 2010. There are 60,000 Indians living in the Philippines. The Philippines and India signed in October 2007 the Framework for Bilateral Cooperation which created the PH-India JCBC. It has working groups in trade, agriculture, tourism, health, renewable energy and a regular policy consultation mechanism and security dialogue.
India–Singapore relations
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 725.1 km2 (280.0 sq mi) (176th) |
| Population | |
| • 2018 estimate | 5,638,700 (113th) |
| • Density | 7,804/km2 (2nd) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $589.187 billion (36th) |
| • Per capita | $103,717 (3rd) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $372.807 billion (31st) |
| • Per capita | $65,627(7th) |
| Gini (2017) | 45.9 medium |
| HDI (2018) | 0.935 very high · 9th |
| Currency | Singapore dollar (S$) (SGD) |
India and Singapore share long-standing cultural, commercial and strategic relations, with Singapore being a part of the “Greater India” cultural and commercial region. More than 300,000 people of Indian Tamil origin live in Singapore. Following its independence in 1965, Singapore was concerned with China-backed communist threats as well as domination from Malaysia and Indonesia and sought a close strategic relationship with India, which it saw as a counterbalance to Chinese influence and a partner in achieving regional security. Singapore had always been an important strategic trading post, giving India trade access to Maritime Southeast Asia and the Far East. Although the rival positions of both nations over the Vietnam War and the Cold War caused consternation between India and Singapore, their relationship expanded significantly in the 1990s; Singapore was one of the first to respond to Indian Look East policy of expanding its economic, cultural and strategic ties in Southeast Asia to strengthen its standing as a regional power. Singapore, and especially, the Singaporean Foreign Minister, George Yeo, have taken an interest, in re-establishing the ancient Indian university, Nalanda University.
Singapore is the 8th largest source of investment in India and the largest amongst ASEAN member nations. It is also India’s 9th biggest trading partner as of 2005–06 Its cumulative investment in India totals US$3 billion as of 2006 and is expected to rise to US 5 billion by 2010 and US 10 billion by 2015. India’s economic liberalisation and its “Look East” policy have led to a major expansion in bilateral trade, which grew from USD 2.2 billion in 2001 to US 9–10 billion in 2006 – a 400% growth in span of five years – and to USD 50 billion by 2010. Singapore accounts for 38% of India’s trade with ASEAN member nations and 3.4% of its total foreign trade. India’s main exports to Singapore in 2005 included petroleum, gemstones, jewellery, machinery and its imports from Singapore included electronic goods, organic chemicals and metals. More than half of Singapore’s exports to India are basically “re-exports” – items that had been imported from India.
India–South Korea relations
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 100,363 km2 (107th) |
| • Water (%) | 0.3 (301 km2) |
| Population | |
| • 2019 estimate | 51,709,098 (28th) |
| • Density | 507/km2 (23rd) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $2.320 trillion (14th) |
| • Per capita | $44,740 (29th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $1.720 trillion(11th) |
| • Per capita | $31,430 (27th) |
| Gini (2016) | 35.7 medium · 93rd |
| HDI (2018) | 0.906 very high · 22nd |
The cordial relationship between the two countries extends back to 48AD, when Queen Suro, or Princess Heo, travelled from the kingdom of Ayodhya to Korea. According to the Samguk Yusa, the princess had a dream about a heavenly king who was awaiting heaven’s anointed ride. After Princess Heo had the dream, she asked her parents, the king and queen, for permission to set out and seek the man, which the king and queen urged with the belief that god orchestrated the whole fate. Upon approval, she set out on a boat, carrying gold, silver, a tea plant, and a stone which calmed the waters. Archeologists discovered a stone with two fish kissing each other, a symbol of the Gaya kingdom that is unique to the Mishra royal family in Ayodhya, India. This royal link provides further evidence that there was an active commercial engagements between India and Korea since the queen’s arrival to Korea. Current descendants live in the city of Kimhae as well as abroad in America’s state of New Jersey and Kentucky. Many of them became prominent and well-known around the world like President Kim Dae Jung, Prime Minister Jong Pil Kim.
The relations between the countries have been relatively limited, although much progress arose during the three decades. Since the formal establishment of the diplomatic ties between two countries in 1973, several trade agreements have been reached. Trade between the two nations has increased exponentially, exemplified by the $530 million during the fiscal year of 1992–1993, and the $10 billion during 2006–2007. During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, South Korean businesses sought to increase access to the global markets, and began trade investments with India. The last two presidential visits from South Korea to India were in 1996 and 2006, and the embassy works between the two countries are seen as needing improvements. Recently, there have been acknowledgements in the Korean public and political spheres that expanding relations with India should be a major economical and political priority for South Korea. Much of the economic investments of South Korea have been drained into China; however, South Korea is currently the fifth largest source of investment in India. To The Times of India, President Roh Moo-hyun voiced his opinion that co-operation between India’s software and Korea’s IT industries would bring very efficient and successful outcomes. The two countries agreed to shift their focus to the revision of the visa policies between the two countries, expansion of trade, and establishment of free trade agreement to encourage further investment between the two countries. Korean companies such as LG, Hyundai and Samsung have established manufacturing and service facilities in India, and several Korean construction companies won grants for a portion of the many infrastructural building plans in India, such as the “National Highway Development Project”. Tata Motor’s purchase of Daewoo Commercial Vehicles at the cost of $102 million highlights the India’s investments in Korea, which consist mostly of subcontracting.
India–Thailand relations
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 513,120 km2 (198,120 sq mi) (50th) |
| • Water (%) | 0.4 (2,230 km2) |
| Population | |
| • 2018 estimate | 69,428,453 (20th) |
| • 2010 census | 64,785,909 |
| • Density | 132.1/km2 (88th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $1.390 trillion |
| • Per capita | $20,474 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $516 billion |
| • Per capita | $7,607 |
| Gini (2015) | 36 medium |
| HDI (2018) | 0.765 high · 77th |
India’s Indian Look East policy, saw India grow relations with ASEAN countries including Thailand, and Thailand’s Look West policy, also saw it grow its relations with India. Both countries are members of BIMSTEC. Indian Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi, P.V. Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Manmohan Singh, have visited Thailand, which were reciprocated by contemporary Thai Prime Ministers Chatichai Choonhavan, Thaksin Sinawatra, and Surayud Chulanont. In 2003, a Free Trade Agreement was signed between the two countries. India, is the 13th largest investor in Thailand. The spheres of trade are in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, nylon, tyre cord, real estate, rayon fibres, paper grade pulps, steel wires, and rods. However, IT services, and manufacturing, are the main spheres. Through Buddhism, India, has culturally influenced Thailand. The Indian epics, Mahabharata, and Ramayana, are popular and are widely taught in schools as part of the curriculum in Thailand. The example can also be seen in temples around Thailand, where the story of Ramayana and renowned Indian folk stories are depicted on the temple wall. Thailand, has become a big tourist destination for Indians.
India–Vietnam relations
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 331,212 km2 (65th) |
| • Water (%) | 6.38 |
| Population | |
| • 2018 estimate | 95,545,962 (15th) |
| • Density | 276.03/km2 (46th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $770.227 billion (35th) |
| • Per capita | $8,066 (128th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $261.637 billion (47th) |
| • Per capita | $2,740 (129th) |
| Gini (2014) | 37.6 medium |
| HDI (2018) | 0.693 medium · 118th |
India supported Vietnam’s independence from France, opposed US involvement in the Vietnam War and supported unification of Vietnam. India established official diplomatic relations in 1972 and maintained friendly relations, especially in the wake of Vietnam’s hostile relations with the People’s Republic of China, which had become India’s strategic rival.
India granted the “Most favoured nation” status to Vietnam in 1975 and both nations signed a bilateral trade agreement in 1978 and the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) on 8 March 1997. In 2007, a fresh joint declaration was issued during the state visit of the Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung. Bilateral trade has increased rapidly since the liberalisation of the economies of both Vietnam and India. India is the 13th-largest exporter to Vietnam, with exports have grown steadily from US$11.5 million in 1985–86 to USD 395.68 million by 2003. Vietnam’s exports to India rose to USD 180 million, including agricultural products, handicrafts, textiles, electronics and other goods. Between 2001 and 2006, the volume of bilateral trade expanded at 20–30% per annum to reach $1 billion by 2006. Continuing the rapid pace of growth, bilateral trade is expected to rise to $2 billion by 2008, two years ahead of the official target. India and Vietnam have also expanded co-operation in information technology, education and collaboration of the respective national space programmes. Direct air links and lax visa regulations have been established to bolster tourism.
India and Vietnam are members of the Mekong–Ganga Cooperation, created to develop to enhance close ties between India and nations of Southeast Asia. Vietnam has supported India’s bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and join the Indo-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). In the 2003 joint declaration, India and Vietnam envisaged creating an “Arc of Advantage and Prosperity” in Southeast Asia; to this end, Vietnam has backed a more important relationship and role between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its negotiation of an Indo–ASEAN free trade agreement. India and Vietnam have also built strategic partnerships, including extensive co-operation on developing nuclear power, enhancing regional security and fighting terrorism, transnational crime and drug trafficking.
.
Indo–Americas
Barbados
India and Barbados established diplomatic relations on 30 November 1966. On that date, the government of India gifted Barbados the throne in Barbados’ national House of Assembly. Many Indians from Gujarat, Bengal and Sindh emigrated to Barbados in the early 20th century. According to historian Sabir Nakhuda, the first Indian to arrive in Barbados was Beshart Ali Dewan. Dewan who hailed from the present-day state of West Bengal emigrated to Barbados in 1910.
Trade
Bilateral trade between Barbados and India totaled US$10.67 million in 2015-16, recording a growth of nearly 4% over the previous fiscal. Indian exports to Barbados stood at $10.50 million and imports were $170,000. The main commodities exported by India to Barbados are vehicles, pharmaceuticals, textiles, iron and steel, and organic chemicals. The major commodities imported by India from Barbados are electrical machinery, optical photography cinematographic equipment.
Belize
India has an Honorary Consulate in Belize City and Belize has an Honorary Consulate in New Delhi. Bilateral trade stood at US$45.3 Million in 2014 and has steadily increased since. Belize and India have engaged in dialogue in Central American Integration System (SICA) discussing anti-terrorism, climate change and food security. India signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement in 2013 with Belize. India also provides Belize US$30 Million as part of its foreign aid commitment to SICA countries. Citizens of Belize are eligible for scholarships in Indian universities under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
The two nations share a close cultural link due to Belize’s large East Indian Population, estimated at 4% of the total population.
Canada
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total area | 9,984,670 km2 (2nd) |
| • Water (%) | 8.92 |
| • Total land area | 9,093,507 km2 |
| Population | |
| • Q3 2019 estimate | 37,797,496 (38th) |
| • 2016 census | 35,151,728 |
| • Density | 3.92/km2 (228th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $1.900 trillion (16th) |
| • Per capita | $50,725 (21st) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $1.731 trillion (10th) |
| • Per capita | $46,213 (17th) |
| Gini (2017) | 31.0 medium |
| HDI (2018) | 0.922 very high · 13th |
Indo-Canadian relations, are the longstanding bilateral relations between India and Canada, which are built upon a “mutual commitment to democracy”, “pluralism”, and “people-to-people links”, according to the government of Canada. In 2004, bilateral trade between India and Canada was at about C$2.45 billion. However, the botched handling of the Air India investigation and the case in general suffered a setback to Indo-Canadian relations. India’s Smiling Buddha nuclear test led to connections between the two countries being frozen, with allegations that India broke the terms of the Colombo Plan. Although Jean Chrétien and Roméo LeBlanc both visited India in the late 1990s, relations were again halted after the Pokhran-II tests.
Trade
Canada and India enjoy a prosperous trading relationship. Since 2004, despite the Late-2000s recession, trade has increased by over 70%. In 2009, Canadian exports to India totalled C$2.1 billion, while in the same year Canadian imports from India totalled C$2.0 billion, giving Canada a C$100 million trade surplus. India celebrated the year 2012 as year of India in Canada to promote business, cultural and political relations with India.
Despite the warm relationship, trade between Canada and India is less than their potential. India accounts for less than 1% of Canada’s total export and total import in 2014, with bilateral trade of C$5.77 billion in 2014 (compared to more than C$56 billion bilateral trade between China and Canada). Nevertheless, total trade between the two countries grows steadily over the past 5 year.
Canada and India are currently holding negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to improve the trade relations between the two countries. As of March 2015, the two countries held their 9th round of negotiations in New Delhi.
Cuba
Relations between India and Cuba are relatively warm. Both nations are part of the Non-Aligned Movement. Cuba has repeatedly called for a more “democratic” representation of the United Nations Security Council and supports India’s candidacy as a permanent member on a reformed Security Council. Fidel Castro said that “The maturity of India…, its unconditional adherence to the principles which lay at the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement give us the assurances that under the wise leadership of Indira Gandhi (the former Prime Minister of India), the non-aligned countries will continue advancing in their inalienable role as a bastion for peace, national independence and development…”
India had been one of the first countries in the world to have recognised the new Cuban government after the Cuban Revolution.
Bilateral trade between Cuba and India was around US$300 million in the 1980s. However, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and economic liberalisation in India in the 1990s, bilateral trade between the countries witnessed a sharp decline. Bilateral trade totaled $38.89 million in 2014-15. India’s exports to Cuba stood at $37.32 million, while imports amounted to $1.57 million. The main commodities exported from India to Cuba are pharmaceutical products, organic chemicals, plastic and rubber articles, machinery and mechanical appliances. The main commodities Cuba exports to India are tobacco products including cigars, raw hides and skins, and leather.
Jamaica
Relations between India and Jamaica are generally cordial and close. There are many cultural and political connections inherited from British colonisation, such as membership in the Commonwealth of Nations, parliamentary democracy, the English language and cricket.
Both nations are members of the Non-Aligned Movement, the United Nations and the Commonwealth, and Jamaica supports India’s candidacy for permanent membership on a reformed UN Security Council.
According to the Ministry of Commerce of the Government of India, total trade between India and Jamaica was worth just US$23 million in 2009-10, with India accounting for nearly all of the exports to Jamaica.
Mexico
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 1,972,550 km2 (13th) |
| • Water (%) | 2.5 |
| Population | |
| • 2019 estimate | 126,577,691 (10th) |
| • Density | 61/km2 (142nd) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $2.628 trillion (11th) |
| • Per capita | $20,868 (63rd) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $1.274 trillion (15th) |
| • Per capita | $10,118 (66th) |
| Gini (2016) | 49.8 high |
| HDI (2018) | 0.767 high · 76th |
Mexico is a very important and major economic partner of India. Nobel Prize laureate and ambassador to India Octavio Paz wrote is book In Light of India which is an analysis of Indian history and culture. Both nations are regional powers and members of the G-20 major economies. In 1947, Mexico became the first Latin American nation to recognize the independence of India from the United Kingdom.
In 2018, two-way trade between both nations amounted to US$10 billion. India’s main exports to Mexico include: textiles, gems, jewelry, leather and software. Mexico’s main exports to India include: petroleum, machinery, fertilizers and chemicals. Between 1999-2014, Indian companies invested US$68.9 million in Mexico. From 2009-2011, Mexican companies invested US$282 million in India.
Nicaragua
Bilateral relations between India and Nicaragua have been limited to SICA dialogue and visits by Nicaraguan Ministers to India. India maintains an honorary consul general in Nicaragua.
Bilateral trade between the two countries for the year 2012-13 was US$60.12 million with India exporting cotton, automobiles and accessories, iron & steel, rubber & rubber products and pharmaceuticals whereas Nicaragua’s export consists of skin & leather, wood & wooden articles, raw hides, etc. India has also donated surgical equipment and medicines worth ₹338,000 in 1998 and again in 2001 worth US$10,000 to help the drought stricken country.
Panama
The Indian-Panamanian connection is the oldest in the Central American region, dating back to the middle of the 19th century when groups of Indians, particularly Sikh immigrants, came to Panama to work on the construction of Panama railways and later the Panama Canal in the early 20th century.
Several agreements have been signed, relating to cultural and educational co-operation, foreign office consultations, mutual cooperation between Foreign Service Institute, India and the Diplomatic Academy of Panama, and the Indian Ministry of Agriculture and the Panamanian Ministry of Agricultural Development.
United States
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total area | 9,833,520 km2 (3rd/4th) |
| • Water (%) | 6.97 |
| • Total land area | 9,147,590 km2 |
| Population | |
| • 2019 estimate | 328,239,523 (3rd) |
| • 2010 census | 308,745,538 (3rd) |
| • Density | 33.6/km2 (146th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $21.439 trillion (2nd) |
| • Per capita | $65,112 (11th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $21.439 trillion (1st) |
| • Per capita | $65,112 (7th) |
| Gini (2017) | 39.0 medium · 56th |
| HDI (2018) | 0.920 very high · 15th |
Historically, United States gave very strong support to the Indian independence movement in defiance of the British Empire. Relations between India and the United States were lukewarm following Indian independence, as India took a leading position in the Non-Aligned Movement, and received support from the Soviet Union. The US provided support to India in 1962 during its war with China. For most of the Cold War, the USA tended to have warmer relations with Pakistan, primarily as a way to contain Soviet-friendly India and to use Pakistan to back the Afghan Mujahideen against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. An Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, signed in 1971, also positioned India against the USA.
After the Sino-Indian War and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, India made considerable changes to its foreign policy. It developed a close relationship with the Soviet Union and started receiving massive military equipment and financial assistance from the USSR. This had an adverse effect on the Indo-US relationship. The United States saw Pakistan as a counterweight to pro-Soviet India and started giving the former military assistance. This created an atmosphere of suspicion between India and the US. The Indo-US relationship suffered a considerable setback when the Soviets took over Afghanistan and India overtly supported the Soviet Union.
United States President Richard Nixon and Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi in 1971. They had a deep personal antipathy that coloured bilateral relations.
Relations between India and the United States came to an all-time low during the early 1970s. Despite reports of atrocities in East Pakistan, and being told, most notably in the Blood telegram, of genocidal activities being perpetrated by Pakistani forces, US. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and US President Richard Nixon did nothing to discourage then Pakistani President Yahya Khan and the Pakistan Army. Kissinger was particularly concerned about Soviet expansion into South Asia as a result of a treaty of friendship that had recently been signed between India and the Soviet Union, and sought to demonstrate to the People’s Republic of China the value of a tacit alliance with the United States.[228] During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Indian Armed Forces, along with the Mukti Bahini, succeeded in liberating East Pakistan which soon declared independence. Nixon feared that an Indian invasion of West Pakistan would mean total Soviet domination of the region, and that it would seriously undermine the global position of the United States and the regional position of America’s new tacit ally, China. To demonstrate to China the bona fides of the United States as an ally, and in direct violation of the Congress-imposed sanctions on Pakistan, Nixon sent military supplies to Pakistan, routing them through Jordan and Iran, while also encouraging China to increase its arms supplies to Pakistan.
When Pakistan’s defeat in the eastern sector seemed certain, Nixon sent the USS Enterprise to the Bay of Bengal, a move deemed by the Indians as a nuclear threat. The Enterprise arrived on station on 11 December 1971. On 6 and 13 December, the Soviet Navy dispatched two groups of ships, armed with nuclear missiles, from Vladivostok; they trailed US Task Force 74 into the Indian Ocean from 18 December 1971 until 7 January 1972. The Soviets also sent nuclear submarines to ward off the threat posed by USS Enterprise in the Indian Ocean.
After the Cold War
Since the end of the Cold War, India-USA relations have improved dramatically. This has largely been fostered by the fact that the United States and India are both democracies and have a large and growing trade relationship. During the Gulf War, the economy of India went through an extremely difficult phase. The Government of India adopted liberalised economic systems. After the break-up of the Soviet Union, India improved diplomatic relations with the members of the NATO particularly Canada, France and Germany. In 1992, India established formal diplomatic relations with Israel.
The economic sanctions imposed by the United States in response to India’s nuclear tests in May 1998 appeared, at least initially, to seriously damage Indo-American relations. President Bill Clinton imposed wide-ranging sanctions pursuant to the 1994 Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act. US sanctions on Indian entities involved in the nuclear industry and opposition to international financial institution loans for non-humanitarian assistance projects in India. The United States encouraged India to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) immediately and without condition. The United States also called for restraint in missile and nuclear testing and deployment by both India and Pakistan. The non-proliferation dialogue initiated after the 1998 nuclear tests has bridged many of the gaps in understanding between the countries.
Post–September 11
India’s contribution to the War on Terror has helped India’s diplomatic relations with several countries. Over the past few years, India has held numerous joint military exercises with United States and European nations that have resulted in a strengthened US-India and EU-India bilateral relationship. India’s bilateral trade with Europe and US has more than doubled in the last five years.
However, India has not signed the CTBT, or the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, claiming the discriminatory nature of the treaty that allows the five declared nuclear countries of the world to keep their nuclear arsenal and develop it using computer simulation testing. Prior to its nuclear testing, India had pressed for a comprehensive destruction of nuclear weapons by all countries of the world in a time-bound frame. This was not favoured by the United States and by certain other countries. Presently, India has declared its policy of “no-first use of nuclear weapons” and the maintenance of a “credible nuclear deterrence”. The USA, under President George W. Bush has also lifted most of its sanctions on India and has resumed military co-operation. Relations with USA have considerably improved in the recent years, with the two countries taking part in joint naval exercises off the coast of India and joint air exercises both in India as well as in the United States.
India has been pushing for reforms in the United Nations and in the World Trade Organization with mixed results. India’s candidature for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council is currently backed by several countries including Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Brazil, African Union nations, United States (but not China). In 2005, the United States signed a nuclear co-operation agreement with India even though the latter is not a part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The United States agreed that India’s strong nuclear non-proliferation record made it an exception and persuaded other Nuclear Suppliers Group members to sign similar deals with India.
On 2 March 2006 India and the United States signed the Indo-US Nuclear Pact on co-operation in civilian nuclear field. This was signed during the four days state visit of USA President George Bush in India. On its part, India would separate its civilian and military nuclear programmes, and the civilian programmes would be brought under the safeguards of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The United States would sell India the reactor technologies and the nuclear fuel for setting up and upgrading its civilian nuclear programme. The US Congress needs to ratify this pact since US federal law prohibits the trading of nuclear technologies and materials outside the framework of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Indo-US strategic partnership
Indo-USA relations got strategic content in the early 1960s. The rise of the People’s Republic of China worried the policymakers in Washington. Chinese assertion in Tibet, its role in the Korean War and other such acts concerned Washington. As the relations between India and China were heated during the late fifties, the Americans found a golden opportunity to take advantage of this situation to promote India as a counterweight to China. But any unidimensional alliance is bound to be short-lived and this alliance was no exception to this general rule. As China ceased to be a headache for the American policymakers by the late sixties, this unidimensional alliance disappeared into thin air.
One of the very interesting features of Indo-USA relations of recent times is the changes on the terms of engagement between the two countries on the issue of nuclear proliferation. While earlier, in the USA strategic thinking on nuclear proliferation, India figured mainly because of American concern about latter’s nuclear and missile programmes, in the twenty-first century, however, American strategic thinking on the issue of nuclear proliferation has undergone major reorientation. Now, the Americans are increasingly realising the futility of insisting on a rollback of India’s nuclear programme. They, rather, want to leverage India’s growing power and influence in favour of their broader nonproliferation and counter proliferation objectives.
Being the world’s oldest democracy, the promotion of democracy around the world is one of the most important foreign policy objective of the United States. India —as the largest democracy of the world— can hardly be overlooked by the United States. This is the reason, co-operation in promotion of democracy in the world has become one of the most important facets of Indo-USA relations in recent times. India is a founding member of the “Community of Democracies”—a prominent endeavour of the United States on promotion of democracy. However, India rejected the suggestion of the USA about setting up a Centre for Asian Democracy.
Agriculture is another important area of co-operation between India and the USA in present times. Considering the fact that both the nations at present have a vast pool of human resources adept at knowledge economy, it is only natural that the best course such partnership can aim at is harnessing these human resources by concentrating on development and dissemination of agricultural knowledge through research, education and training etc. An initiative to forge such a partnership is the “India-USA Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture” (KIA).
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the guest of honour at the first state dinner, which took place on 24 November 2009, of the administration of US President Barack Obama. Obama later visited India from 6–9 November 2010, signing numerous trade and defence agreements with India. He addressed the joint session of the Indian parliament in New Delhi, becoming only the second US President to do so, and announced that the United States would lend its support to India’s bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, signifying the growing strategic dimension of the relationship between the world’s two largest democracies.
BJP government (2014–present)
Key recent developments include the rapid growth of India’s economy, closer ties between the Indian and American industries especially in the Information and communications technology (ICT), engineering and medical sectors, an informal entente to manage an increasingly assertive China, robust cooperation on counter-terrorism, the deterioration of U.S.-Pakistan relations, easing of export controls over dual-use goods & technologies (99% of licenses applied for are now approved), and reversal of long-standing American opposition to India’s strategic program.
Income creation in the USA through knowledge-based employment by Asian Indians has outpaced every other ethnic group according to U.S. Census data. Growing financial and political clout of the affluent Asian Indian diaspora is noteworthy. Indian American households are the most prosperous in the US with a median revenue of US$100,000, followed by Chinese Americans at US$65000. The average household revenue in the USA is US$50000.
In February 2016, the Obama administration notified the US Congress that it intended to provide Pakistan eight nuclear-capable F-16 fighters and assorted military goods including eight AN/APG-68(V)9 airborne radars and eight ALQ-211(V)9 electronic warfare suites despite strong reservations from US lawmakers regarding the transfer of any nuclear weapons capable platforms to Pakistan.
Threat of sanctions against India
In October 2018, India inked the historic agreement worth US$5.43 billion with Russia to procure four S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile defence system, the most powerful missile defence system in the world ignoring America’s CAATSA act. The U.S. threatened India with sanctions over India’s decision to buy the S-400 missile defense system from Russia. The United States also threatened India with sanctions over India’s decision to buy oil from Iran.
Trade relations
The US is India’s second largest trading partner, and India is its 9th largest trading partner. In 2017, the US exported $25.7 billion worth of goods to India, and imported $48.6 billion worth of Indian goods. Major items imported from India include information technology services, textiles, machinery, gems and diamonds, chemicals, iron and steel products, coffee, tea, and other edible food products. Major American items imported by India include aircraft, fertilisers, computer hardware, scrap metal, and medical equipment.
The United States is also India’s largest investment partner, with a direct investment of $10 billion (accounting for 9 percent of total foreign investment). Americans have made notable foreign investments in the Asian country’s power generation, telecommunications, ports, roads, petroleum exploration and processing, and mining industries.
American imports from India amounted to $46.6 billion or 2% of its overall imports, and 15.3% of India’s overall exports in 2015.
The 10 major commodities exported from India to the US were:
Gems, precious metals and coins ($9.5 billion)
Pharmaceuticals ($6.1 billion)
Oil ($2.8 billion)
Machinery: $2.5 billion
Other textiles, worn clothing: $2.5 billion
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $2.2 billion
Organic chemicals: $2.1 billion
Knit or crochet clothing: $1.7 billion
Vehicles: $1.4 billion
Iron or steel products: $1.3 billion
American exports to India amounted to $20.5 billion or 5.2% of India’s overall imports in 2015. The 10 major commodities exported from the US to India were:
Gems, precious metals and coins ($3.4 billion)
Machinery: $3 billion
Electronic equipment: $1.6 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.4 billion
Oil: $1.3 billion
Aircraft, spacecraft: $1.1 billion
Plastics: $815.9 million
Organic chemicals: $799.4 million
Other chemical goods: $769.1 million
Fruits, nuts: $684.7 million
.
South Americas
Argentina
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 2,780,400 km2 (8th) |
| • Water (%) | 1.57 |
| Population | |
| • 2019 estimate | 44,938,712 |
| • 2010 census | 40,117,096 (32nd) |
| • Density | 14.4/km2 (214th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $903.542 billion (25th) |
| • Per capita | $20,055 (56th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $445.469 billion (30th) |
| • Per capita | $9,887 (53rd) |
| Gini (2017) | 41.2 medium |
| HDI (2018) | 0.830 very high · 48th |
Formal relations between both the countries were first established in 1949. According to the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India, “Under the 1968 Visa agreement, (Argentine) fees for transit and tourist visas have been abolished. Under the new visa agreement signed during Argentine Presidential visit in October 2009, it has been agreed that five-year multi-entry business visas would be given free of cost. The Embassy of India in Buenos Aires gives Cafe Con Visa (coffee with visa) to Argentine visitors. The applicants are invited for coffee and visa is given immediately. This has been praised by the Argentine media, public and the Foreign Minister himself.
Brazil
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 8,515,767 km2 (5th) |
| • Water (%) | 0.65 |
| Population | |
| • 2019 estimate | 210,147,125 (6th) |
| • Density | 25/km2 (200th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2020 estimate |
| • Total | $3.596 trillion (8th) |
| • Per capita | $17,016 (80th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2020 estimate |
| • Total | $1.893 trillion (9th) |
| • Per capita | $8,955 (73rd) |
| Gini (2017) | 53.3 high · 10th |
| HDI (2018) | 0.761 high · 79th |
Diplomatic relations between India and Brazil were established in 1948. The Indian Embassy opened in Rio de Janeiro on May 3, 1948, moving to Brasília on August 1, 1971.
Relations between Brazil and India has been extended to diverse areas as science and technology, pharmaceuticals and space as both are member nations of BRICS. The two-way trade in 2007 nearly tripled to US$3.12 billion from US$1.2 billion in 2004. India attaches tremendous importance to its relationship with this Latin American giant and hopes to see the areas of co-operation expand in the coming years.
Both countries want the participation of developing countries in the UNSC permanent membership since the underlying philosophy for both of them are: UNSC should be more democratic, legitimate and representative – the G4 is a novel grouping for this realisation. Brazil and India are deeply committed to IBSA (South-South co-operation) initiatives and attach utmost importance to this trilateral co-operation between the three large, multi-ethnic, multi-racial and multi-religious developing countries, which are bound by the common principle of pluralism and democracy.
One of the major sources of tension between the two nations was the decolonisation process of the Portuguese enclaves in India, principally Goa. Despite pressure from India on Portugal to retreat from the subcontinent, Brazil supported Portugal’s claim for Goa. Brazil only changed course in 1961, when it became increasingly clear that India would succeed in taking control of Goa by force from an increasingly feeble Portugal, which faced too many internal problems to pose a potent military threat to India. Still, when Nehru’s armies overwhelmed Portuguese resistance and occupied Goa, the Brazilian government criticised India sharply for violating international law. While Brazil tried to explain to India that its position was to be understood in the context of a long tradition of friendship between Brazil and Portugal, the Indian government was deeply disappointed that Brazil, a democratic and a former colony, would support a non-democratic Portugal against democratic and recently independent India.
Economic relations
More recently, Brazil and India have co-operated in the multilateral level on issues such as international trade and development, environment, reform of the UN and the UNSC expansion. The two-way trade in 2007 nearly tripled to US$3.12 billion from US$1.2 billion in 2004. In 2016, trade between the two nations had increased to US$5.64 billion.
21st century relations
UNSC reform
Both countries want the participation of developing countries in the UNSC permanent membership since the underlying philosophy for both of them are: UNSC should be more democratic, legitimate and representative – the G4 is a novel grouping for this realisation.
South-South cooperation
Brazil and India are involved in the IBSA initiative. The IBSA Dialogue Forum (India, Brazil, South Africa) is an international tripartite grouping for promoting international cooperation among these countries. It represents three important poles for galvanizing South-South cooperation and greater understanding between three important continents of the developing world namely, Africa, Asia and South America. The forum provides the three countries with a platform to engage in discussions for cooperation in the field of agriculture, trade, culture, and defence among others.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2014 trip
In July 2014, he visited Brazil for his first multilateral visit, the 6th BRICS summit was held at the north-eastern beach city of Fortaleza. In the Fortaleza summit the group have agreed to establish a financial institution rivaling the Western-dominated World Bank and IMF, The bank would be named the New Development Bank as suggested by the Indian side but the Modi government failed to bag the bank’s headquarters for New Delhi.
Chile
Chile was the first country in South America to sign a trade agreement with India, in 1956. A Framework Agreement was signed on January 20, 2005 to promote further Economic Cooperation between India and Chile. The agreement proposed a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the respective countries, which after several rounds of negotiations was finalized during the talks held at New Delhi in November 2005. The PTA came into force with effect from 17 August 2007 in Chile and in India on 11 September 2007.
In 2016 both the countries signed an agreement to expand the India- Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), marking a 10-fold jump in the number of products to be traded on concessional duty rates. India’s bilateral trade with Chile stood at $2.6 billion with exports at $0.68 billion and imports at $1.96 billion respectively in FY16.
Colombia
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 1,141,748 km2 (25th) |
| • Water (%) | 8.8 (17th) |
| Population | |
| • July 2019 estimate | 48,258,494 (29th) |
| • Density | 42.23/km2 (173rd) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $791.995 billion (31st) |
| • Per capita | $15,719 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $355.163 billion (38th) |
| • Per capita | $7,049 |
| Gini (2017) | 49.7 high |
| HDI (2018) | 0.761 high · 79th |
Both countries established diplomatic ties on 19 January 1959. Since then the relationship between the two countries has been gradually increasing with more frequent diplomatic visits to promote political, commercial cultural and academic exchanges. Colombia is currently the commercial point of entry into Latin America for Indian companies.
On August 23, 2007 the Colombian government reported that trade between Colombia and India was increasing. India gained from the exports to Colombia some US$346 million while Colombia exported to India some US$62 million.
Paraguay
The bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Paraguay have been traditionally strong due to strong commercial, cultural and strategic co-operation.
Bilateral trade between India and Paraguay totaled US$212 million in 2015, registering a growth of 27% over the previous year. India exported $145 million worth of goods to Paraguay and imported $67 million worth of commodities. The main commodities exported from India to Paraguay are organic chemicals, vehicles, auto parts, cosmetics, machinery, pharmaceuticals, plastics, sound and image devices, aluminium, and rubber products. The main commodities exported from Paraguay to India are soya oil (94% of imports), sunflower oil, leather and wood.
Trinidad & Tobago
Bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago have considerably expanded in recent years with both nations building strategic and commercial ties. Both nations formally established diplomatic relations in 1962.
Both nations were colonised by the British Empire; India supported independence of Trinidad and Tobago from colonial rule and established its diplomatic mission in 1962 – the year that Trinidad and Tobago officially gained independence from British rule. They possess diverse natural and economic resources and are the largest economies in their respective regions. Both are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, the United Nations, G-77 and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Venezuela
| Area | |
|---|---|
| • Total | 916,445 km2 (32nd) |
| • Water (%) | 3.2% |
| Population | |
| • 2018 estimate | 28,887,118 (government) 28,067,000 (44th) |
| • Density | 33.74/km2 (181st) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | n/a |
| • Per capita | n/a |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
| • Total | $70.140 billion (51st) |
| • Per capita | $2,548 (93rd) |
| Gini (2013) | 44.8 medium |
| HDI (2018) | 0.726 high · 96th |
Diplomatic relations between India and Venezuela were established on 1 October 1959. India maintains an embassy in Caracas, while Venezuela maintains an embassy in New Delhi.
Trade
India surpassed China as the largest Asian importer of crude oil from Venezuela in 2012. Venezuela is India’s fourth largest source of crude oil after Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Iran accounting for 12% of the country’s oil imports in April–November 2018. In the preceding decade, India became the third largest importer of oil in the world, after the United States and China. Following unrest in West Asia, its traditional source of oil, India looked to diversify its sources of oil imports. The rise in US domestic oil production resulted in a 49% reduction of American oil imports from Venezuela in 2014, creating an opportunity for India to increase crude oil imports from Venezuela.
As crude oil imports form the bulk of bilateral trade, the total value of trade is heavily dependent on crude oil prices. Bilateral trade between India and Venezuela totalled US$5.83 billion in 2015–16. This was much lower than the $14.46 billion, $14.22 billion and $11.99 billion recorded in 2012–13, 2013–14 and 2014–15 respectively. In 2015-16, crude oil exports from Venezuela to India stood at $5.68 billion, while non-oil exports from Venezuela accounted for just $23.18 million. Apart from crude oil, the other major commodities India imports from Venezuela are iron pellets and electrical cables.
India’s total exports to Venezuela in 2015–16 totaled $130.66 million, declining from $258.07 million the previous fiscal. The main commodities exported by India to Venezuela are pharmaceuticals, chemicals, textiles, calcined petroleum coke (CPC), engineering products such as scooters, equipment and machinery.
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