PM Modi in America: Dawn of new era in US-India strategic and defence relationship

In 2005, the process of Indo-US nuclear deal could be said to have started with a new era of India-US strategic cooperation. However, the process was not simple and the formalisation of the deal went through various phases of negotiations. Much of the debate took place both in India and the US on issues related to granting special nuclear status to India and possibly India joining a pro-US camp.

Nevertheless, in the initial stages of negotiations itself, the US negotiators realised that India will not be a ‘pushover’ and unlikely to buckle down to any pressures. India was also much aware of its own impeccable record in the area of arms control and disarmament. It was also clear that the US was keen to ensure that their dying nuclear industry would get a fillip. India was fully aware of the economic interest of the US.

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