How do you say India is important to US ? We are not a economic super power , to an extent I would even say we are performing very badly and still developing and will take a lot of time to get some status. Our economy is a very closed economy protected from western world ,How many US Brands are popular in India do you think ? If trade can influence relationship China should be the closest ally to US.
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We aren't a big player now, but we could be in future! Economic and military power is rising fast, politically we need more weight in the UN and closer ties to other Asian powers like Korea, Japan, and of course to Europe and US.
You said it, the economy was very protected from the west, but now every big company understands that India is one of the biggest markets in future. US understands it too and they want and need a piece of it. The nuclear deal was the key to get closer to us and this market, thats why they did EVERYTHING (much pressure on some Europe countires) to fix the deal.
And China has only trade to offer as a commonality, we have trade, democracy, fight against terrorism, etc and of course most important we are no military threat for US.
Indian defense budget is not even noticeable for them,They have major clients in Middle east,We are no where near by.If India chooses to import military hardware from US its a blunder mistake , rather we can just decide not to have military itself
.There are so many occasions US has betrayed its allies.History goes from Pakistan to Iraq.
Boeing Eyes USD 31 billion Worth Defense Deals with India | India Defence
Name me one Middle east country that is ready to spend $10 B + for fighters in the next few years and has this kind of perspective for more deals?
I completely disagree with your last point. India can never become a global player, this is my answer , " Being 1 Bn + population , One of a biggest military power in the world, Largest democracy, Our Prime minister BEGGING Pakistan such a small country(compared to India by size , population and nothing else !!! ) near by to act on the terrorists and ISI for Mumbai attack.We belong to a country watches its hundreds of civilians cruelly killed and does nothing else but begging some one else for acting on that , can not even think of becoming global super power , not even a regional power.
First, look at the link I give above, even US sources thinks so.
Second, in days of nuclear warheads, it's not that important how big ur country is, or how many people u have. Even US fears to attack a nuclear power, that's why they can't allow Iran, or North Korea to get these weapons.
Third, I think because we did not attacked just out of emotions and without proves we are much closer to US, Britain and other nations in fight against terror then ever before! That's why other countries puts more pressure on Pakistan to act, do you think that would happen if we had attacked them?
I don't say believe anything US say, get anything they offer just as any other customer. But a stratigic partnership in war on terror, military developments, politics and of course economic reasons would be a benefit for both nations.