Sharpening its attack on Indo-US nuclear deal, the Communist Party of India-Marxist on Tuesday charged the United States with trying to make India a 'junior partner' through strategic alliances and vowed to oppose any tie-ups with Washington in nuclear and defence areas.

"Strategic alliance with the US and independent foreign policy cannot go hand in hand. We will oppose every joint strategy with the US whether it is civilian nuclear or defence agreements," CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat told the party's state-level conference in Madurai.

He said the policy of economic liberalisation in the eight South American countries had failed, prompting them to oppose the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and turn to Left ideologies.

India, which had been a 'traditionally anti-imperialist country,' should not fall a prey to 'pro-American' financing bodies like World Bank.

Washington turned to India after failing to bring West Asia under its control, he said, adding that aiding any strategic alliance with the USA would facilitate the entry of capitalists and multi-national companies into India.