It was only natural for India to have close relations with the British Labour Party in the years immediately following its independence on August 15, 1947. This was primarily because it was Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee who changed past colonial practices and policies, after leading his country to victory in the Second World War. He recognised that it would be neither desirable nor realistic to seek to rule India after the war, given Mahatma Gandhi’s determination to spearhead a non-violent struggle against colonial rule in India and elsewhere. This view was rejected by Winston Churchill, who opposed, in principle, independence for British colonies, and was also against India’s support for those seeking independence from British imperialism, across the world.

While India’s relations with the Conservative Party remained uneasy, especially during Anthony Eden’s misadventure on the Suez Canal, they improved significantly when Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher held office, and have continued in this vein during more recent times with Conservative Prime Ministers including David Cameron. New Delhi’s relationship with the Labour Party, however, has remained thorny after the days of Tony Blair. This was, in the view of many Indians, because of the Labour Party’s domestic political and electoral imperatives.

There is a natural pride in India when eminent British nationals of Indian origin assume high office, like the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, ordo well in their professions, whether they are academics, cricketers, entrepreneurs, or bright and successful businessmen.

The experience has been somewhat similar in the development of India’s relations with the US. The first years after India’s independence were marked by differences on various issues, ranging from India’s warm association with the Soviet Union to New Delhi’s concerns about the military relationship of CENTO with Pakistan. India’s relationship with the US then took a nosedive after the beginning of the Nixon-Kissinger effort to improve relations with China, with Pakistan acting as the intermediary. It deteriorated further when the US, China and Pakistan teamed up during the Bangladesh conflict in December 1971. This triad, however, failed, with the Pakistan army’s surrender to Indian forces in December 1971. (Interestingly, Britain’s then Prime Minister Edward Heath expressed understanding of India’s imperatives during the conflict.)

Ever since the end of the Cold War, and the adoption of economic liberalisation by India, the Indo-US relationship has steadily improved. Most importantly, US President George Bush (Jr) ended the US nuclear restrictions and sanctions against India imposed by Presidents Carter and Clinton. US-India ties duly matured into a partnership, which is now an important factor in the conduct of both countries’ foreign and security policies across the Indo-Pacific region. There is a clear understanding in Washington that India will continue its bilateral military cooperation with Moscow and also continue its presence in forums such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS. India remains firmly committed to improving ties with the US, while retaining its strategic autonomy.