ISAS Insights

Biden’s Visit to India: Pushing the Asia - Pacific ‘Pivot’ S D Muni 1 The visit by the US Vice - President Joseph R Biden , Jr to India in July (22 - 25) 2013 may be seen in the context of the US efforts to reinforce its commitment to the “pivot”/ “ rebalancing ” strategy for the Asia - Pacific region. The reinforcement of this commitment is required to address both the domestic doubts as well as external anxieties. Within the US , while there is widespread bipartisan support for the strategy, doubts ling er about its direction and the capability to implement it. On 23 July , four members of the US Congress addressed a letter to the newly appointed National Security Advis o r Susan Rice asking for an “inter - agency” review of the “Asia - Pacific Strategy”, “in or der to better define the ends - ways - means of the Administration’s strategic objectives in the region”. 2 Within Asia - Pacific region, many countries have anxieties if the US would remain fully committed to this strategy in view of it s budgetary constraints un der the proposed ‘sequestration’ and moves to work out strategic understanding with China