About the American-Indian Alliance in the XXI Century. A Lesson from the History of the Sino-Indian War of 1962

Abstract

The article discusses the problem of the American-Indian alliance in the Indo-Pacific region as a response to the expansionist policies of China. The author, referring to selected opinions and analyses, points to a certain “strategic deficit” of such an alliance and draws attention to its possible limitations. He evokes a very important historical context: the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and US-British military aid to India. Quoting declassified American/Indian documents, the author emphasizes the decisive role of President Kennedy and Prime Minister Macmillan in ending the conflict. He suggests that this half--forgotten precedent could be used in the process of strengthening current US-Indian relations.