Historical US Policy on China and India in the Late 2000s

A review of US geopolitical and trade policies from 2009 noted that the Obama administration was working to improve relations with a country that could become a major long-term ally. The report highlighted that Bill Clinton had begun courting India in the 1990s, and George W. Bush's nuclear cooperation agreement helped India avoid nuclear isolation. This strategic relationship is viewed in contrast to China, which is described as another Asian economic giant.

The report suggests that India's strategic importance is significant, noting that its economy is projected to outgrow China's by the second half of the century. The US involvement in nuclear power and technology sales to India established foundations for lasting trade and strategic partnerships.