The Elephant in the Room

This paper will assess key challenges associated with implementing the goals of President Obama's 2010 NSS with respect to America's relationship with India. It will argue that understanding and respecting the legacy of colonialism, and the Nehruvian fundamentals of India's foreign policy are paramount to the ultimate success of US and Indian bilateral and multilateral national security arrangements. Given its colonial history, and how that history is reflected in its approach to foreign policy, India will likely be resistant to entering alliances in which it perceives itself as an American satellite or as being subjugated to a great power. Moreover, the Nehruvian principle of non-aggression may make India a reluctant ally in US counter-terrorism operations and geopolitics. In order to build a successful cooperative relationship with India, the US will have to consider how to engage with India not only on the basis of what the US and India share in common, but also on the basis of how they differ. To that end, this paper examines three different issue areas through the lens of India's unique characteristics: India's major geopolitical relationships in the region, its perspective on counterterrorism, and its nuclear strategy.