ISAS Insights

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited India on the third leg of her Asian ‘farewell’ tour after discussions in China and Bangladesh. This short visit to India was important in three aspects. It reemphasized the US resolve to promote its strategic partnership with India in the wider context of Asia-Pacific region. It brought into public domain the persisting differences between India and the US on two critical issues of US priorities in relations with India i.e. isolating Iran and creating a ‘level playing field’ for the American companies in India’s civil nuclear energy field. Thirdly, the visit also underlined the emerging dimensions of the US approach towards India and Asia. In India Mrs. Clinton appeared comfortable in directly broaching the sensitive issues of India’s federal and regional (in relation to immediate neighbours) affairs with the provincial leadership. And in Asia, the US, appearing to have failed in coping with the imperatives of China’s rise and assertion, is trying to hedge through engagement in ‘mini-laterals’; triangular consultations involving other Asian majors and China’s regional competitors like India and Japan.