I didn’t know any one else was consulted in any serious manner about the Japanese bombings. From the other poster it appears the UK was heavily involved? It’s def more than the US, but if only them, then not all of the “Allies” unless we’re only considering the US and UK the “Allies”. In the end though, both cases had both countries. Not to mention other situations in the world like the Middle East.
Not sure if America had anything to do with India. Probably not.
The funny thing is, India always wanted to be an equal partner/ally of the US, since its independence, but was continuously rebuffed. Every move of India was an effort to get close with the West. India owes a bit to FDR and Truman for applying pressure on the UK to decolonize, and the American public for being staunch supporters of Indian independence. The Green Revolution in India, crucial for creating Indian food security, was spearheaded by a US govt programme and Norman Borlaugh. The IITs were created through largely Western funding and collaboration (with the exception of IIT Bombay, which was created with Soviet funding). India (under Nehru) helped convince most of the West Indies and Africa to join the UK Commonwealth, in spite of their own torrid histories of being colonized.
But then USA decides to do stuff like supporting a belligerent China (which had the infamy of invading every one of its neighbors), supporting Pakistan openly (which was an easier puppet because of the military rule, unlike India), assassinating people in the Indian nuclear programme (allegedly), silently supporting the Bangladeshi genocide. And in spite of all this, India didn't choose to go to the Soviet sphere of influence, but tried to create one based on mutual partnership, a sphere that remains the largest today (the Non-Aligned Movement).
All in all, the USA and India share a lot of common goals and objectives, but the US must realize that India wants to be a strongly independent partner, like say France, and not a puppet partner like the UK or Germany.
Hmm India has never been a close US’s ally, the latest example being their stand in the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They are more often than not at odd with the US’s interest. The only thing that brings the two sides together is China.
I quite literally do not know how to interpret your point about Japan and India because your claims are literally not true.
Even if Japan were 100% US aircraft it wouldn’t obviously be indicative of your broader point given Japan’s unique post-war restrictions on its military (enforced by the US).
Well considering US was ready to bomb India and it was a Russian submarine that saved India, it makes sense. Also don't forget about US supplying arms and aid to Pakistan which Pakistan in turn would use to arm Talibans and Kashmiri insurgents. On top of that, US was pretty vocal about wanting sanctions on India for testing out nuclear weapons. Given the history, who would be an ally in that case?
And the US still continues to hesitate to forge stronger ties with India because of Cold-War-era (mis)alignments. It should be Canada, UK, India; instead India doesn't even feature in the top 15 closest American allies.
Na, US didn't have India as friends. Specially because India started the Non Aligned Movement (basically we aren't choosing sides, we'll have relations with both US and Soviet)
Americans had the attitude that if you aren't with us, then you are against us. Plus India had a socialist economy
Not sure what your point is? Yes, Pakistan has been our “ally from
Hell” for at least a generation. Meanwhile India has wound up with weapons made by a “partner” who reports to its geopolitical rival.
The point is it’s difficult seeing history following a different path. America was rebuilding and de-colonialising Europe. That required involvement in the Middle East. It was simultaneously countering the Soviets, globally. The Soviet Union, meanwhile, was the only one concerned about Chinese army’s potential in Central Asia. India, being close to that, was similarly concerned. (As it remains.)
If one were to wipe last 30~40 years of current affairs from my memory and ask me which countries in the middle east could be among US's allies, I would have gone with Iran and Israel. Their (I mean Iranian people here, they are among the most friendly, open minded and helpful people I have met) value system seems so much better aligned, compared to say Saudi Arabia.
Instead we have US backing Iraq, unprovoked shooting down of civilian jet with no apologies forthcoming, scuttling the future of a democracy.
There is quite a bit of gap between the talk (of spreading democracy) and the walk.
Jewish people and Persian people have a long and harmonious history in settling in various parts in India. This makes it all the more strange to an Indian.
India’s local geopolitics are much too complex for that string of ties. Canada is almost our twin and the UK had very similar interests and despite the ocean between us has essentially the same neighbors.
India’s necessary relations with China, Russia, and the Middle East are just complex and it would not fit and be a major shift in power for it to align closely with American interests nor does America want to put itself in that position.
For example, it was historically non-aligned but on friendly terms with the Soviet Union:
> In 1954, the United States made Pakistan a Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) ally. As a result, India cultivated strategic and military relations with the Soviet Union to counter Pakistan–United States relations.[2] In 1961, India became a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement to abstain from aligning with either the US or the USSR in the Cold War.
Of course, India would seem to be a natural ally given that both countries are committed democracies and there is massive immigration from India to the United States, but in practice the United States likes the reliability of less-democratic states and India likes to control its own affairs and is powerful enough to do so.
Back in time India tried making an atomic bombs but US used every trick in the book to prevent it from doing so. Where is the good relationship you talk about?
America has been supporting Pakistan untill last few years.
Few days ago they cancelled preferential trade agreement resulting in retaliation from India and imposing counter tariff on American goods.
As India gets more powerful, it will only make enemy with China or US and that's a guaranteed event.
Here I am waiting for the US to impose tariff on Indian software exports and this will make India change its way.
That the US and India aren't each other's closest ally confuses me. It's the 2 biggest democracies, both are on uneasy terms with China, there's an enormous Desi diaspora here. Both are heavy into high-tech with struggling manufacturing bases. Both have a history of trouble with Islamic terrorism, both ardent allies of Israel. Each is the largest country in their region.
Hell, we speak the same language (kinda, I know it's a lingua franca etc)! So why are we allies with Pakistan, a country that openly hates us, instead of India?
Not sure if America had anything to do with India. Probably not.
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