screenshot Modi US Congress Courtesy: MEA / Flickr
23 June 2016

India-U.S.: not yet a priority partner

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's fourth visit to the United States has been met with hails of success and with comments of 'too little, too late'. While Modi's friendship with President Obama is often credited for improving bilateral relations, the U.S. leader is currently nearing the end of his term. The new President will have their own geopolitical demands, which will invariably result in India being relegated to a second-term priority.

modiobama Courtesy: Wikipedia
29 May 2016

Modi in the U.S.: a changed landscape

Prime Minister Modi’s skills will be tested on his upcoming visit to the United States. The challenge comes in light of recent anti-India sentiments voiced at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. With Modi set to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress, this is an opportunity to address all concerns, be it on policy or polity.

modi RCEP Courtesy: MEA / Flickr
26 May 2016

India’s five-cornered trade strategy

Five rather unfavourable trends define India’s trade performance over the past two years; these trends also provide useful pointers as to where India’s future trade strategy can go over the next three years as it deals with a global economic slowdown, the rise of megatrade agreements and a pivot to a more intensive trade relation with the U.S.

800px-thumbnail Courtesy: Wikipedia
12 May 2016

India: openly-allied with the U.S.

After nearly a decade of moving slowly towards the U.S. on critical matters including nuclear power, the recent bilateral agreement to share military facilities and have anti-submarine warfare talks, suggest that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have India sail the oceans with the American eagle.

US India Navy Courtesy: Ash Carter / Flickr
16 April 2016

India-U.S.: convergence and divergence

The success of the U.S. Defense Secretary's recent visit to India is indicative of the deepening India-U.S. defence relationship. It has become clear that Indo-U.S. maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean is steaming ahead; while other geopolitical differences, like the sale of aircraft to Pakistan, seem unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

Carter and Parikhar Courtesy: Department of Defense, U.S. Gov
14 April 2016

Carter in India: a foundational visit

The recent visit of the U.S. Defense Secretary to India has yielded significant outcomes on streamlining bilateral military interactions, deepening maritime security cooperation and defence technology collaboration. As India grows closer to the U.S., it should be clear about the objectives of this engagement

West_Texas_Pumpjack Courtesy: Wikipedia
13 April 2016

North America: petro state

The U.S. and Canada offer an opportunity for India to acquire large scale oil and gas fields in politically stable countries at a low price. A financial investment in energy companies will protect India against a rise in energy prices without raising concerns in host countries.

washington-2010 Courtesy: Whitehouse.gov
29 March 2016

Developing global nuclear security

Once the fourth and final global Nuclear Security Summit is held this week in Washington, D.C., the challenge will primarily be for bureaucrats to continue working and keep leaders engaged on nuclear security. Inertia on this issue, especially when there is growing intelligence on security breaches, could be deadly.

Azaz,_Syria Courtesy: Wikipedia
9 March 2016

India and the Syrian quagmire

With a cessation of hostilities been brokered by Russia and the United States, the conflict in Syria has entered a tense pause. India has had a bystander attitude to the conflict in Syria. However, with the truce expected to be short, does India have the incentive or the option to depart from its current position, and deepen its engagement in Syria?