devyani Courtesy: Asia Society/Flickr
20 December 2013

Nanny-gate dogs strategic partnership

The recent arrest and alleged mistreatment of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade by the U.S officials has cast a cloud over decades of Indo-U.S. partnership. With the furore showing little sign of dying down soon, could this impact bilateral ties at a time when the two nations need to work together in South Asia?

Bangladesh flag Mostaque Chowdhury flickr Courtesy: Mostaque Chowdhury/Flickr
12 December 2013

India, U.S: Divided over Dhaka

Come January, Bangladesh will elect its next prime minister. Although it has emerged as a significant player in the region, India and the U.S. are yet to develop a synergy in their policies towards this important nation – even as the deeper struggle for influence and resources in Asia continues

obama manmohan pete souza Courtesy: Pete Souza/Wikimedia Commons
29 September 2013

India-U.S: Consolidating relations

Since 2009, distraction and dysfunction in India and the U.S. resulted in low enthusiasm vis-à-vis bilateral ties. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who met U.S. President Barack Obama, prior to the UNGA, had one last chance to salvage India-U.S. ties before the country goes to elections in 2014. Did he succeed?

Ashok chakra by Ashok flicr Courtesy: Ashok/Flickr
27 September 2013

Foreign policy, saat samundar paar

Ahead of the Indian Prime Minister’s meetings with his counterparts from Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan on the sidelines of the UNGA, Ambassador Neelam Deo and Manjeet Kripalani blog about why India will only be able to conduct its foreign policy overseas, away from its raucous media and opposition parties

Indira Lyndon Jerchel wikimediacommons Courtesy: Jerchel/WikimediaCommons
24 September 2013

The case for India-Alignment

India often finds itself in the right place at the wrong time or vice versa, as our dogma of non-alignment trumps honest calculations of self-interest in policy-making – rendering it unfavourable. The national interest, hence, calls for selective alignment on some issues with Washington and on others with Beijing

manmohan obama seema Courtesy: U.S. Embassy New Delhi
11 September 2013

India-U.S: Last chance to salvage ties

Since 2009, distraction and dysfunction in both India and the U.S. have dissipated the enthusiasm for greater bilateral ties. However, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has one last chance to salvage India-U.S. ties during his visit to the country this month, and he must utilise it appropriately

biden MEA 2 Courtesy: Ministry of External Affairs, India
31 July 2013

The importance of Biden’s visit

Although the office of the U.S. vice president seldom plays a role in defining the country’s foreign policy, the recently concluded visit of Vice President Joe Biden to India – the first such visit in nearly three decades – has thrown open several questions, answers to which hold upshots for India and her neighbours. Chintamani Mahapatra blogs

manmohan kerry MEA Courtesy: Ministry of External Affairs
30 July 2013

India’s torpor, U.S.’ frustration

Policy-making in India remains haphazard, and in the name of ‘strategic autonomy’ New Delhi is scuttling its own rise. Biden’s visit underlines India’s importance in the U.S.’ strategic calculus. India must now decide what role it sees for the U.S. in its foreign policy matrix and for itself in the global order

biden MEA Courtesy: Ministry of External Affairs, India
23 July 2013

Biden’s political skills will be tested in India

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to India this week comes at a time when the India-U.S. bilateral relationship has gone seemingly adrift. Can this visit, which comes just months ahead of the Indian general elections, rejuvenate the relationship which is rooted in long-term common strategic interests?

Prime Minister's Office Courtesy: Prime Minister's Office
15 January 2013

India-U.S.: Realizing full potential

Although the India-U.S. relationship has seen steady improvement over the past few years, it hasn’t garnered the amount of high-level attention necessary to actualise the massive potential of this liaison. What are the key areas both the nations need to focus on, to achieve outputs for maximum mutual benefit?