Despite Challenges, the India-U.S. Relationship Stands on its Own

The first-ever foreign and defence minister level India U.S. 2+2 dialogue, reflecting a new level of convergence and interest, is now reportedly scheduled for September. Two earlier last-minute postponements — first in April because of a change in the U.S. secretary of state and then in July on account of the new secretary of state deciding to travel to North Korea instead of India, rekindled doubts about the sustainability and purpose of the post-2008 strategic partnership.

There is no doubt that the second postponement indicated that the relationship with India is not a priority for the United States at the moment. Instead, President Donald Trump has focused on staking out his own imprint on issues, undermining or abrogating decisions taken by his predecessors such as on Trans-Pacific Partnership on trade and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, and exploring new initiatives on North Korea and Russia where previous presidents — George Bush and Barack Obama — were not able to make headway. His meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki is part of that effort.