♤ New Delhi realized that a closer relationship with Washington could help them fill the

vacuum left by the Soviet Union’s fall and also balance against rising power of Beijing.

♤ U.S., for its part, was no longer forced to view India in light of the latter’s friendship with

the Soviets and could re-evaluate Indo-U.S. relations on their own merits.

♤ In 2004 these countries converted the bilateral ties into strategic partnership.