Portrait of Condoleezza Rice
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Condoleezza Rice on India

Strong strategic partner (strong)

TL;DR

Condoleezza Rice views the US-India relationship as an enduring, bipartisan strategic partnership vital for global leadership and stability.

Key Points

  • She supported accelerating the US-India Strategic Partnership Initiative and launching an energy dialogue in April 2005.

  • She categorized the US-India ties as enduring and bipartisan, asserting that its importance is recognized by any White House occupant.

  • As Hoover Institution Director, she prioritized expanding research on US-India strategic cooperation, exemplified by a delegation visit in February 2023.

Summary

Condoleezza Rice consistently champions the United States-India relationship, characterizing it as an enduring and bipartisan connection essential for global affairs. She stated that whoever occupies the White House in 2025 will recognize this relationship as the most important one for the US. During her tenure as Secretary of State, she worked to elevate the relationship to a new level, engaging in strategic dialogue and launching an energy dialogue with Indian counterparts. Rice affirmed that India is becoming a global power due to its own democratic emergence and not solely due to US support, a trend the US welcomes and supports.

Since leaving office, her focus has remained on deepening this strategic alignment, particularly in defense, technology partnerships, and addressing global challenges. Her work as Director of the Hoover Institution involves actively promoting research and engagement to strengthen US-India cooperation, including identifying areas for progress in building strategic alliances and enhancing security cooperation. She noted that the world's oldest democracy and its largest one share similar visions and values, making them natural partners in leading to solve worldwide issues.

Key Quotes

“Globalization is a fact, not a policy”

“The US-India relationship is not just bipartisan, it is enduring. Whoever occupies the White House in January 2025, will realize, that this is the most important relationship”

Frequently Asked Questions

Condoleezza Rice currently views the US-India relationship as enduring and not merely bipartisan, believing it to be the most important one for the US regardless of the administration. She stresses the potential for cooperation in defense and technology partnerships.

Yes, as Secretary of State, she stated that international organizations, including the UN, would have to account for India's growing global role in order to remain updated and effective. She also mentioned supporting broader UN reform in that context.

She expressed understanding for India's desire for strategic autonomy, stating she has no problem with it. However, she believes that the deep, shared interests between the US and India will ultimately lead to a stronger partnership.