'India, U.S. Must Commit To It for True Strategic Partnership'

According to the Republican Senator, it is also no secret that India and the United States have not been reaching their full potential as strategic partners over the past few years, and there is blame to be shared on both sides for that.

"Too often recently, we have slipped back into a transactional relationship? One defined more by competitive concession-seeking than by achieving shared strategic goals. We need to lift our sights again," he noted.

When it comes to U.S. national interests, the logic of a strategic partnership with India is powerful: India will soon become the world's most populous nation, he said.

"It has a young, increasingly skilled workforce that can lead India to become one of the world's largest economies. It is a nuclear power and possesses the world's second-largest military, which is becoming ever more capable and technologically sophisticated. It shares strategic interests with us on issues as diverse and vital as defeating terrorism and extremism, strengthening a rules-based international order in Asia, securing global energy supplies, and sustaining global economic growth," he added.

Contrary to the old dictates of realpolitik, McCain said the United States seeks not to limit India's rise, but to bolster and catalyse it - economically, geopolitically, and yes, militarily.

"It is my hope that Prime Minister Modi and his government will recognize how a deeper strategic partnership with the United States serves India's national interests, especially in light of current economic and geopolitical challenges," he said.

Pushing for modernization of Indian armed forces, McCain said this is an area where U.S. defence capabilities, technologies, and cooperation - especially between defence industries - can benefit India enormously.

"Similarly, greater bilateral trade and investment can be a key driver of economic growth in India, which seems to be what Indian citizens want most from their new government," he said.

Likewise, as India seeks to further its 'Look East' policy and deepen its relationships with major like-minded powers in Asia - especially Japan, but also Australia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam - those countries are often U.S. allies and partners as well, and their collective ability to work in concert can only magnify India's influence and advance its interests, he added.

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