Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Although many in India have claimed that their prime minister’s November trip to Washington was a disappointment, the summit was successful in demonstrating U.S. interest in strengthening its strategic partnership with India, and it built a foundation for further conversations.
During Prime Minister Singh's visit to Washington, President Obama should declare U.S. support for India's permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.
India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is being honored as the first state visitor to the Obama White House, providing him with the opportunity to stress geopolitical imperatives as well as to remind Obama of India's importance in international politics.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Washington will be the first state visit since President Obama came into office, demonstrating the importance the Obama administration places on constructive bilateral relations between the two nations.
In spite of the fact that the disputed October presidential election has significantly undermined the legitimacy of the Afghan government, the United States should firmly recommit itself to the war effort and build its relationship with Karzai.
The United States and India should use Singh’s forthcoming visit to showcase the promise of bilateral cooperation and to foster enhanced partnership in key areas such as nonproliferation and climate change.
The United States and India must agree on three vital security issues to ensure that their relations continue to deepen: terrorism, Kashmir, and the balance of power in Asia.
The principle task facing the new U.S. administration is to consolidate U.S. hegemony by reaffirming the nation’s global role, renewing its economic strength, and recovering its legitimacy.
President Obama's failure to explicitly mention that the U.S. intends to stay in Afghanistan could could strengthen the Taliban, which seeks to outlast the international coalition.
Negotiating with the Taliban is the worst possible approach the U.S. could adopt in its effort to stabilize Afghanistan. Instead, the U.S. must signal long-term commitment to rebuilding the nation.
