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Friends with Benefits: The India-US Story
Thirty years ago, when veteran journalist Seema Sirohi first arrived in Washington DC, bilateral relations between India and the United States of America were at their worst. In the late 1980s and 1990s, the political spotlight shone favourably upon Pakistan and China. For the leader of the free world, India didn't matter. The years leading up to the twenty-first century saw the US-and the multilateral organizations of which it was a member-force India to jump through endless bureaucratic hoops. India's nuclear tests in 1998 were the final nail in its coffin, as far as the US was concerned.
Cut to the present, and the curtain has lifted on a dramatically different geopolitical stage. India is no longer the enemy for the US, nor is it sidelined strategically. In an age dominated not just by China's rise but by its undoubted political and economic muscle power, India has become the fashionable new ally in Washington.
What has taken the two countries so long to get here? What have been the events that have forced India and the US to dance, finally, in sync? Did political leaders take the initiative to push policy mandarins to change the game, or was it vice versa? What role has China played in the change in bilateral relations? And are India and the US finally ready for a relationship of equals, or will they continue to be 'friends with benefits'?
To look for answers, this book takes the reader back to the twilight years of the Cold War, and charts an engaging journey of global and bilateral diplomacy through the decades. Using first-hand reportage and drawing on conversations with key diplomats, foreign policy makers and former CIA operatives, Sirohi brings a delightfully frank and anecdotal perspective to a thrilling tale of diplomacy and high-voltage politics.
Cut to the present, and the curtain has lifted on a dramatically different geopolitical stage. India is no longer the enemy for the US, nor is it sidelined strategically. In an age dominated not just by China's rise but by its undoubted political and economic muscle power, India has become the fashionable new ally in Washington.
What has taken the two countries so long to get here? What have been the events that have forced India and the US to dance, finally, in sync? Did political leaders take the initiative to push policy mandarins to change the game, or was it vice versa? What role has China played in the change in bilateral relations? And are India and the US finally ready for a relationship of equals, or will they continue to be 'friends with benefits'?
To look for answers, this book takes the reader back to the twilight years of the Cold War, and charts an engaging journey of global and bilateral diplomacy through the decades. Using first-hand reportage and drawing on conversations with key diplomats, foreign policy makers and former CIA operatives, Sirohi brings a delightfully frank and anecdotal perspective to a thrilling tale of diplomacy and high-voltage politics.
608 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 19, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 23, 2023
My grouse about the book is the title. "Friends with Benefits" does not accurately depict the relationship. The subtitle says it better.
The book is excellent because Seema Sirohi has traced the arc of the Indo-US relationship from Independence until now. She has not done a detailed, scholarly analysis of the events. However, she mentioned this upfront. What she has done is to write about the history. It is up to a student of geopolitics to delve deeper. She walked a fine line, staying away from judgement and criticism.
The epilogue is a disappointment. China is driving Indo-US relations now, as is the American war in Ukraine.
She veered off from explaining recent events, and this is a weakness in the book.
Since she published the book, the geopolitical situation has changed. Follow the events yourself but read the book to bring yourself up to speed.
Her writing style is engaging, professional and readable. This book is not heavy so pick it up without trepidation.
The book is excellent because Seema Sirohi has traced the arc of the Indo-US relationship from Independence until now. She has not done a detailed, scholarly analysis of the events. However, she mentioned this upfront. What she has done is to write about the history. It is up to a student of geopolitics to delve deeper. She walked a fine line, staying away from judgement and criticism.
The epilogue is a disappointment. China is driving Indo-US relations now, as is the American war in Ukraine.
She veered off from explaining recent events, and this is a weakness in the book.
Since she published the book, the geopolitical situation has changed. Follow the events yourself but read the book to bring yourself up to speed.
Her writing style is engaging, professional and readable. This book is not heavy so pick it up without trepidation.
February 3, 2025
A cracker of a book by journalist Seema Sirohi on the ever evolving landscape of India US diplomatic ties. The book is a comprehensive reportage of all that transpired between the two countries post cold war especially from the 80s. Going from the Nixon Kissinger era all the way to the Biden Harris era, FWB is a wonderful tale of how diplomacy works, the intricate levers Indian diplomats have to finesse in Capitol Hill while managing local politics, international relations and troubling neighbors like Pakistan and China. The book reads like a thriller in some parts given how pacy the narrative of suave Indian diplomats working in DC is. Must read for Indians in America or anyone interested in a deeper dive in subjects of diplomacy, international relations or Indo-US politics
March 20, 2023
A good overview with good detail (the perfect balance) of the India - US relationship since the end of the Cold War. For us youngsters who only entered this field towards the end of the last decade, this serves as a reminder on where the relationship has come from, and perhaps, where it could go to, given external circumstances. In the current atmosphere of heady US India relations, it particularly serves as a cautionary tale of the tumultuous past. Filled with wit, humour, anecdotes, sarcasm, snark, and satire, this book is a breezy and entertaining read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews