ABSTRACT
India’s relations with the United States have been described variously as “estranged democracies”1 and “distanced powers”2 by Americans. Indians have tended to describe it, perhaps a bit more positively, as “distanced democracies,”3
“engaged democracies”4 and finally as “natural allies.”5 Another common refrain often articulated from India, describes the United States as the oldest and most powerful democracy and itself as the largest.6 The expectation from both sides appears to have been that “democracy” will somehow transcend national interests and security imperatives and shape the relationship.7
