US Panel Examines Potential Pakistan Break to Bolster India Alliance
As the Trump administration re-evaluates its global partnerships, a significant debate has emerged among US experts regarding the steps necessary to elevate India to America's foremost strategic ally. During a recent commission hearing, Jonathan Stivers posed a provocative question: would breaking diplomatic relations with Pakistan be required to cement trust and solidify this partnership?
Expert Insights on Strengthening US-India Ties
The panel of specialists provided a nuanced and multi-faceted response, moving beyond simplistic symbolic gestures. Lindsey Ford emphasized that collaboration on emerging technologies should be the central pillar of the bilateral relationship. She argued that joint innovation in fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and space technology would create a more durable and mutually beneficial alliance.
Sameer Lalwani focused on defense capabilities, stressing the importance of developing joint offensive defense strategies. He highlighted India's critical need for credible long-range deterrence, suggesting that enhanced military cooperation and technology sharing would be far more impactful than any diplomatic rupture with Pakistan.
Tanvi Madan underscored the strategic convergence between the US and India regarding China, while also emphasizing the crucial role of consistency in American foreign policy. She noted that predictable, long-term engagement would build more trust than any single dramatic action.
Concrete Cooperation Over Symbolic Gestures
Collectively, the experts' recommendations point toward a clear conclusion: formal alliance status between the United States and India will depend not on symbolic political moves, but on substantive, concrete cooperation across multiple domains. The panel identified three key areas where deepened collaboration is essential:
- Defense and Security: Enhancing joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, and defense technology transfers to strengthen regional security architecture.
- Technological Innovation: Fostering partnerships in critical and emerging technologies to drive economic growth and maintain competitive advantages.
- Indo-Pacific Strategy: Aligning approaches to ensure a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region through coordinated diplomatic and economic initiatives.
The hearing ultimately suggested that while the question of Pakistan relations highlights the complexity of South Asian geopolitics, the path to a stronger US-India alliance lies in building practical, multidimensional partnerships rather than making dramatic diplomatic breaks.
