A TROUBLED RELATIONSHIP: U.S.-INDIAN RELATIONS DURING THE REAGAN-RAJIV YEARS, 1984-1989

Abstract

This thesis examines the Indo-American relationship during the Reagan-Rajiv period. Despite Reagan’s and Gandhi’s best efforts and the apparent strategic and economic considerations and imperatives to improve relations—especially during the early Reagan- Rajiv period—there were three fundamental, profound geopolitical differences between the United States and India that prevented closer ties between the world’s two largest democracies from October 1984 to January 1989. They were, one, U.S. continued military support to Pakistan; two, the nuclear issue in South Asia; and three, Afghanistan. Drawing from American diplomatic archival materials and news sources, this thesis traces the ebb and flow of this bilateral relationship and examines how these geopolitical differences influenced the considerations of key policymakers and events that occurred during the said period. The relations were on an upswing for about a year after Gandhi came to power as India’s new Prime Minister, which ultimately culminated in Gandhi’s June 1985 official visit to Washington. However, a series of diplomatic and political events brought the relationship on a downward spiral from October 1985 to December 1987, as Delhi—due to its growing national security concerns vis-à-vis Islamabad and domestic political pressure at home—increasingly doubted and disagreed with Washington’s policies towards Pakistan and South Asia. Afghanistan brought about further complications to the weakening relationship from December 1987. Increasingly concerned by the imminent Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan and the deteriorating security climate of the region, Delhi took actions that increasingly drew the ire of Washington. This thesis seeks to challenge and correct the prevailing characterisation of U.S.-India relations during the Reagan-Rajiv years. Much of the prevailing scholarship regards the relationship as one that had “improved substantially” during this period. Yet the empirical record suggests otherwise. This thesis therefore aims to provide a better understanding of this bilateral relationship between 1984 and 1989.