The US needs a strategic partner in Asia to promote both regional stability and the security of the US homeland and to prevent the rise in the influence of a powerful Asian state from opposing US interests. Therefore, one must have a better understanding of how continued security assistance to India's military may or may not promote US interests and determine if such assistance should continue. This thesis will attempt to answer the question: Should the US provide security assistance to India's military? This thesis will focus on four driving factors behind Indo-US relations: Indian self-image, nuclear security, regional security, and economics. This thesis will then analyze these factors in terms of national interests, strengths, and weaknesses and use them to construct possible scenarios for the future of Indo-US relations. The most likely scenario will be selected by determining the implications of each scenario and evaluating indicators from current events. The most likely scenario will support the conclusion of this thesis.

ADA 471510 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)