Ex-CIA Officer Urges Stronger US-India Alliance Amid Shifting Geopolitics

Cold War ghosts still haunt US-India relations—but a CIA veteran says it’s time to rewrite the rules. Could technology and security bridge the old divides?

, and Administrator

2025 November 24 . 9:27 PM

1 min read

In the image there is a book with army tank and jeeps on it, it seems like a war along with a text... — In the image there is a book with army tank and jeeps on it, it seems like a war along with a text above it.

Ex-CIA Officer Urges Stronger US-India Alliance Amid Shifting Geopolitics

A former CIA officer has called for the US and India to build a much closer partnership. Vann H. Van Diepen, who once led the agency’s Counter-Proliferation Division, argues that the two nations share core interests and values. Despite past tensions, he sees an opportunity for deeper cooperation in areas like technology and security.

Van Diepen highlighted the long-standing puzzle of why the US and India never became true allies. He pointed to historical factors, including India’s Cold War ties with the Soviet Union and its reliance on Russian military equipment. Yet he believes old ways of thinking should now be set aside.

The push for a stronger US-India bond reflects changing geopolitical realities. As India distances itself from Russian energy, new avenues for cooperation may emerge. Van Diepen’s remarks suggest that shared challenges—and shared values—could reshape the partnership in the years ahead.