India-US relationship is Building the New Security Framework in Asia-Pacific
Although India and the US share common values and mutual security interests, it was not until recently that the two countries perceived the urgent need of balancing power in Asia and the necessity of a much closer partnership to fully utilize its potential components, as India’s growing strategic capability is within the US’ national security interest while India is seeking enhanced business opportunities with the US.
The world was astonished when president Obama was invited as chief guest at India’s 65th Republic Day anniversary in January. The invitation normally is extended to India’s closest diplomatic allies, and president Obama was the first US president to receive the honor. As Prime Minister Modi promoted economic growth as the top priority during his election campaign, it was assumed that the honor was bestowed to strength ties merely to boost economic growth.
However, Modi proposed India’s new plan when US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter visited with Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar in India to sign the 10-year renewal of the Defense Framework for the India-US strategic partnership, prioritizing foreign policy while at the same time focusing on the economic growth.
It is not only India’s challenge, but also Asia’s challenge to ensure open access to maritime, air space and cyber space domains. In addition, it is on the US’ agenda to maintain the Freedom of Navigation for flow of goods and services to the Indian Ocean Region and the South China Sea while helping India to navigate its political relationship with Pakistan and assist in India’s China policy.

THE RISING CHINA AND PAKISTAN & AFGHANISTAN ISSUES
Strengthening India-US strategic partnership will continue to upset China since China firmly believes that the improvement of the two countries is counterweighing to China. In fact, China expressed concerns when the US-India Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) was initiated.
China has shown vigorous support to Pakistan, as a tactical strategy to edge the partnership by offering economic, nuclear and military support and encouraging the US to maintain a positive relationship with Pakistan in order to contain Afghanistan. Unfortunately, China and Pakistan have already invested approximately $2 billion in Afghanistan in order to build access and goodwill, complicating the India-US relationship.
It is vital to note that the Sino-India relationship will be negatively affected. Although India and China have recently resumed interactions after a three-year hiatus, the relationship has been seriously affected by China’s attempts to increase its strategic influence near Indian boarders and throughout the IOR. Beijing will continue to make investments in strategic sectors, such as ports, space technology and IT in the sensitive regions like the Indian north-east. Moreover, Beijing will continue to support Pakistan since Pakistan offers important strategic opportunities from China’s oil sea lanes of communication to the Persian Gulf.
Understanding this complex web of relationships is the key to stabilize the Asia-Pacific region, to build up India-US strategic partnership and to promote global peace and prosperity.

STRONGER INDIA-KOREA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
The foreign policy initiatives made by the US have mentioned that India and South Korea are the most favorable allies ; thus, the India-Korea relationship should be able to deliver a stronger ‘Look East’ policy. South Korea is a vital strategic partner to India in terms of economy and security. On the other hand, India is a key partner for protecting the security of sea lanes in the Indian Ocean and the Malacca straits since the sea lanes are essential routes for the Korean economy to export goods. Approximately, Seoul acquires 87% while India acquires 73% of oil from the region.
As India depends on imports for 70% of its defense requirements, Korea is an adequate strategic partner in terms of providing diversity of defense supplies. South Korea possesses a competitive defense industry in terms of cost-effectiveness; Korea has gained international renown as a viable defense partner. Specifically, Korea’s expertise in shipbuilding will greatly serve India’s armed forces.
India-Korea strategic ties have been rapidly blooming. The two countries signed MoUs on defense industry and logistics cooperation in 2005 and signed an agreement regarding collaboration between their Coast Guard services in 2006. President Park Geun-hye visited India in 2014 and presented a common vision of a stronger cooperation and an open economic and trade environment. During the visit, both countries signed the agreement on protection of classified military information (PCMI).

CONCLUSION
The India-US strategic partnership has opportunities as well as challenges. However the partnership contains many more positive aspects. The partnership grew out of the simple buyer-seller relationship; defense sales substantially increased from zero in 2008 to $9 billion last year between two countries, with the US replacing Russia as India’s biggest supplier. The US has shown willingness to enhance India’s overall defense capacities by providing new technologies and equipment.
Secretary Carter oversaw the creation of the Defense Trade and Technology Initiative before getting nominated to his current position. The DTTI will boost economic growth for both countries as well as build up defense partnerships between American defense industries and Indian industries. More importantly, Carter agreed to expedite discussions to move forward with cooperation on jet engines, aircraft carrier design and construction, and other areas. Simultaneously, it is important to manage patience and persistence on this initiative, as it does require some time to fully cooperate from preventing bureaucratic obstacles.
It is clear that India is the US' best strategic partner to balance Asia-Pacific region, making it vitally important for the US to help India be economically dynamic and militarily strong.
References
1 Hemal Shah, “In U.S-India’s Defense: Pivoting the Strategic Partnership Forward,” Foreign Policy, January 23, 2015. http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/01/23/in-u-s-indias-defense-pivoting-the-strategic-partnership-forward/ (accessed June 19, 2015).

2 Arun Sahgal, “India and US Rebalancing Strategy for Asia-Pacific,” Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, July 9, 2012. http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/IndiaandUSRebalancingStrategyforAsiaPacific_asahgal_090712/ (accessed June 19, 2015).
3 Sandy Gordon, “Will China “Wedge” India and the US?” Future Directions International, June 6, 2014. http://www.futuredirections.org.au/files/sap/FDI_Strategic_Analysis_Paper_-_Will_China_Wedge_India_and_the_US.pdf/ (accessed June 20, 2015).
4 Myint-U Thant, “Where China Meets India,” New York: Farrarm Straus and Giroudux, (2011).

5 See, Sandy Gordon, “Will China “Wedge” India and the US?” Future Directions International, June 6, 2014. http://www.futuredirections.org.au/files/sap/FDI_Strategic_Analysis_Paper_-_Will_China_Wedge_India_and_the_US.pdf/ (accessed June 20, 2015).

6 Lakhvinder Singh, “South Korea – India Strategic Cooperation”, Institute for Far Eastern Studies: Kyungnam University, (2014).

7 See, Lakhvinder Singh, “South Korea – India Strategic Cooperation”, Institute for Far Eastern Studies: Kyungnam University, (2014).

8 S. Amer Latif, “Korea-India-US Strategic Engagement”, Korea Economic Institute, May 2012. http://keia.org/sites/default/files/publications/kei_koreacompass_s.amerlatif.pdf/ (accessed June 20, 2015).

9 See, Hemal Shah, “In U.S-India’s Defense: Pivoting the Strategic Partnership Forward,” Foreign Policy, January 23, 2015. http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/01/23/in-u-s-indias-defense-pivoting-the-strategic-partnership-forward/ (accessed June 19, 2015).

10 Pranamita Baruah, “India-South Korea Relations: A New Beginning”, Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses, January 29, 2014.
http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/IndiaSouthKoreaRelations_pbaruah_290114.html/ (accessed June 20, 2015).
11 See, Hemal Shah, “In U.S-India’s Defense: Pivoting the Strategic Partnership Forward,” Foreign Policy, January 23, 2015. http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/01/23/in-u-s-indias-defense-pivoting-the-strategic-partnership-forward/ (accessed June 19, 2015).
12 See, Arun Sahgal, “India and US Rebalancing Strategy for Asia-Pacific,” Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, July 9, 2012. http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/IndiaandUSRebalancingStrategyforAsiaPacific_asahgal_090712/ (accessed June 19, 2015).
13 Economic Times, “India-US defence relations: Four takeaways from Ashton Carter’s talks with Manohar Parrikar, June 3, 2015. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-us-defence-relations-four-takeaways-from-ashton-carters-talks-with-manohar-parrikar/articleshow/47531906.cms/ (accessed June 21, 2015).

14 Lisa Curtis, “Priorities for Prime Minister Modi’s Visit: U.S and India Must Cooperate for Asian Stability”, Heritage Foundation, September 24, 2014. http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2014/09/priorities-for-prime-minister-modis-visit-us-and-india-must-cooperate-for-asian-stability/ (accessed June 20, 2015).


- Jimmy Youn serves as Research Fellow at the Indo-Korea Business and Policy Forum.

Mr. Youn served as a legislative intern/aide for U.S Senator Arlen Specter in 2009 in Washington, DC. He received a Master’s Degree in Public Health in Health Policy from Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University. He is currently preparing for a Ph.D program in security studies in the U.S.