Over the last two decades, the U.S. has unwaveringly assisted India in building strategic heft to balance Chinese military power. This was based on the assumption that both countries shared a common vision of a stable and prosperous Asia free of Chinese hegemony. In 2015, they announced a joint vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region, including a common understanding on freedom of navigation and overflight, especially in the South China Sea.
The U.S. also gave India the label of "net provider of security" in the Indian Ocean and beyond in the belief that their two navies could work in partnership to uphold the safety and security of international shipping.
