natural ally in what sense.What is the definition of natural ally.USA and india are two banks of ariver which can run parallel but can never meet.USA's interest and indian interests never converges.With usa sitting in Indian subcontinenent and IOR f0r 6 decades there is/was always threat perception from usa.since bill Clinton's 2nd term usa has improved relations with inda over a decade that doesnt mean it wont go sour anytime.USA is like that camel you never know which side it will sit on.And with pakistan as live example i wont even trust usa even if gods comes and tells me.Btw obama admin backtraked a lot on bush admin's commitment.
Quote my words - I have said that US considers India as natural ally and not vice versa. India have not made up its mind at this time and will not do so unless there is a compulsion as Indian politicians are clueless. AFA Pakistan is concerned, it is an isolated case as it was pursuing an agenda which was against the global agenda(I am not stating it overtly as I do not want diversion of discussions at this time). Pres. Obama admin backtracked a lot on Bush's commitment but what is there to lose for India? India did not commit to anything on a reciprocatory basis. It is US which is courting India at this time but will not do so forever. I would say strike when the iron is hot.
I am regurgitating what I stated in another thread.
It is in India's interests to align with US. Here is why.
1. U.S in the recent times have proved how it can be a powerful ally especially by bringing India out of nuclear isolation. It is in India's interest to take advantage of a powerful ally in U.S for other global issues as well.
2. NAM was useless as was seen during the 1962 war when the countries in NAM gave a lip service and was "non-aligned" - true to the name.Even in 1965, NAM provided little support to India.
2. 1965 war was stalemate as India never had the support of super power.
3. 1971 - India gave a decisive blow to Pakistan as India had signed a treaty with USSR few months before the war. If not, USSR would have kept quiet and India would have called for a cease fire fearing the US carrier group near India. In short, India was decisive in war only after it aligned with a super power.
4. Imagine a quick strike by China - Is India ready now to push back Chinese troops as India does not have the firepower in the Indo-China border. If India is aligned with US, there is an assured weapons support as seen during the 1962 war though it was late at that time.
5. Pakistan will be China's ally going forward and if there is an Indo-Pakistan conventional war, India need to be cognizant of China opening another front. If U.S is an ally, China will think twice about opening another front.
6. The reason for 5 holds good for Chinese aggression as well.(with no Pakistan participation).
7. Alignment with US is for economy reasons as well. SCO or ASEAN+3 will be dominated by China and many a time, it may not be in the best interests of India. Whereas TPP is an anti-Chinese trade group which is fostered by US. Japan may join in future. Likewise Korea will join TPP in future. It is in India's interests to join any of these trade groups and what best than TPP.