India-U.S. relations

On an array of issues and norms of importance to the Biden administration, India’s position is more akin to that of China than the US.

New Delhi has sought to navigate between expressing veiled concern for the Russian invasion and maintaining an important strategic and security relationship.

In recent years, Washington and New Delhi have unprecedentedly been at odds with each other over democratic values.

New Delhi has been silent on Russia’s actions in Ukraine so far.

India’s diplomacy with Russia and the U.S. holds lessons for Seoul’s China-U.S. balancing act.

Even as India tilts closer to the U.S., Russia continues to play a crucial role for Indian strategy.

It is not yet clear how the U.S. will respond to India’s receipt of Russia-made S-400 air defense systems. 

As part of the Middle East quad India will garner support from other member countries for its own interests but it might be forced to get off the fence on crucial and sensitive geopolitical debates.

Despite concerns that the Biden administration’s focus on human rights and democracy would entail sharp criticism of New Delhi, Blinken’s visit highlighted the many areas of bilateral synergy.

Cooperation in Afghanistan, the Indo-Pacific and countering COVID-19 are on the agenda of the bilateral talks.

Clear challenges for the India-U.S. bilateral lay ahead over military, economic, and climate matters; tensions over democracy and human rights could flare up at any moment.

In its relations with NATO, New Delhi will strive to eat the Chinese cake and keep the Russian one.