Over the years, US expectations of its relations with India have evolved significantly, from hoping India would be a bulwark against China and Russia in 1947 to finding common ground in 2023. Throughout history, India-US relations have been characterized by ambiguity, both before India’s independence and in the present, as the two democracies appear to be growing closer.
A significant development is Kamala Harris, a person of Indian heritage, holding the second-highest office in the US, a milestone that might have been unimaginable to Franklin D. Roosevelt, who played a crucial role in India’s independence struggle. The foundation of modern India’s ties to the US can be traced back to Roosevelt’s efforts in 1941, compelling British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to sign the Atlantic Charter, which promised independence for colonies and self-determination.