January is an important month in India-U.S. relations, with the arrival of a new U.S. ambassador, a visit by Secretary of State John Kerry to the country, and a meeting in New Delhi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama.
Ambassador Rich Verma is the first Indian-American to serve as ambassador to India. In his introductory video, he noted the shared India-U.S. values of democracy, human rights and open economies. Upon his arrival in New Delhi, he noted the “shared goals of security, development and prosperity.” Ambassador Verma was assistant secretary for legislative affairs for Secretary Hillary Clinton, with a wide ranging budget and policy portfolio. Previously, he worked for Senator Harry Reid and Congressman Jack Murtha, served in the United States Air Force, and earned law degrees from Georgetown and American University. He co-authored World at Risk (2008), on biological and nuclear terrorism, which included a chapter specifically about Pakistan.
Secretary Kerry’s visit to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit on January 10 highlights increasing trade relations between the two countries. This follows a November agreement between India and the U.S. on WTO trade facilitation.
President Obama will meet President Modi in New Delhi for India’s Republic Day, Jan. 26. President Obama’s last visit to India was with Prime Minister Singh in 2010, during which the President endorsed the idea of a permanent U.N. Security Council seat for India. Prime Minister Modi and President Obama last met in Washington in September, following some diplomatic rows, including the arrest of Indian diplomat.
More than merely polite diplomat-speak, September’s joint statement reflected the growing importance of India-U.S. ties – and of India’s role in the world. The U.S. and India have shared interests in the information technology industry, nuclear cooperation, maritime security and counterterrorism, to name a few. India’s enormous, young, and growing population, its economic rise, and its democratic government make it an increasingly important partner for the United States on issues from Pakistan, the South China Sea, and North Korea to trade, climate change and education.
But India remains a country with very diverse challenges. The September summit led to commitments on space exploration, clean energy, e-governance and physics research, but also on U.S. help with clean water and sanitation, vaccines and railroad technology. Additionally, President Obama arrives in an India facing increasing concerns about Hindu nationalism and freedom for religious minorities.
If the late Speaker Tip O’Neill’s adage that “all politics is local” applies to international relations, though, China and Pakistan have to lead the agenda. India and Pakistan have gone in opposite directions in the last 15 years: “India-Pakistan” has in many ways changed to “China-India” and “Afghanistan-Pakistan.” Pakistan and China remain critical security priorities for India, for the region, and for the United States. As the President looks to strengthen U.S. global interests (and perhaps his own legacy), advancing India-U.S. trade and security ties is a logical and essential avenue.
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