From isolation to partnership: 6 times US froze out India -And how the ice melted

The India-US relationship, now hailed as a "defining partnership of the 21st century", hasn't always been smooth sailing. Over the decades, Washington has isolated or sanctioned New Delhi more than once - only for the two sides to find their way back.Here's a look at six major flashpoints when ties froze, and how diplomacy, shifting geopolitics and shared interests brought the two democracies back together.

1.⁠ ⁠The 1974 Nuclear Test - From Pride to Punishment

India's first nuclear test in May 1974 - code-named "Smiling Buddha" - was a moment of national pride. In Washington, it was seen as a threat to the global non-proliferation regime.

The US led the formation of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to block nuclear technology transfers and imposed strict restrictions on India.

The thaw: Strategic necessity during the Soviet-Afghan war in the 1980s, combined with growing trade and education ties, slowly pulled the two sides closer.

2.⁠ ⁠1971 Bangladesh Liberation War - USS Enterprise and the Cold Chill

During the war, US President Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger backed Pakistan, sending the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise into the Bay of Bengal. India saw this as intimidation.

The thaw: In the years that followed, gradual engagement - especially during the Janata Party government and later Rajiv Gandhi's tenure - restored diplomatic warmth.

3.⁠ ⁠1998 Nuclear Tests - Sanctions and a Standoff

India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in May 1998 triggered sweeping US sanctions under the Glenn Amendment, cutting military and economic aid and blocking loans from global institutions.

The thaw: Backchannel diplomacy paved the way for President Bill Clinton's 2000 visit to India. The real breakthrough came with the 2005 US–India Civil Nuclear Agreement, ending nuclear isolation.

4.⁠ ⁠Early 2000s Trade and Visa Frictions

The outsourcing boom saw US lawmakers criticise India over H-1B visa use and software piracy. Immigration rules tightened, sparking unease in Delhi.

The thaw: Economic interdependence in tech and services, coupled with India's growing role in global supply chains, ensured disputes were managed quietly.

5.⁠ ⁠2013 Devyani Khobragade Diplomatic Row

The arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York over visa fraud allegations triggered a diplomatic crisis. India retaliated by scaling back privileges for US envoys.

The thaw: Both sides quickly moved to de-escalate. Quiet diplomacy and a change of postings ensured the incident didn't derail the broader strategic agenda.

6.⁠ ⁠CAATSA Sanctions Threat Over Russia's S-400 Deal

In 2018, the US warned India of possible sanctions under CAATSA for purchasing Russia's S-400 missile defence system.

The thaw: In 2022, citing the importance of India as a strategic partner, the US Congress backed a waiver, removing a potential roadblock in defence ties.

The Big Picture

From nuclear standoffs to diplomatic flare-ups, the India-US relationship has repeatedly survived - and often emerged stronger - from moments of deep distrust. Today, cooperation spans defence, clean energy, technology and the Indo-Pacific. But history is a reminder: Even the closest partnerships have weathered storms before sailing into calmer waters.