Podcast Episode
- +1
Milan Vaishnav, Shoumitro Chatterjee, Sameer Lalwani, …
Podcast Episode
Looking Back at U.S.-India Relations in the Biden Era
Ashley J. Tellis joins Milan Vaishnav for the premiere of Grand Tamasha's 12th season to reflect on the Biden administration's handling of U.S.-India relations and the challenges at hand for the next presidential administration.
Published on Sep 12, 2024
After a short summer break, Grand Tamasha is back with its twelfth season!
As we head into the U.S. presidential elections and bid farewell to the Biden administration, it seems like an opportune time to discuss the last four years of U.S.-India ties under President Biden and to take stock of where we are at this particular moment in history.
To do so, Milan is joined by one of the show’s most popular guests, Ashley J. Tellis. Ashley holds the Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he specializes in international security and U.S. foreign and defense policy. He has a special focus on Asia and the Indian subcontinent and is widely considered one of the world’s most respected voices on Indian foreign policy and U.S.-India relations.
Ashley and Milan talk about the Trump inheritance, the Biden administration’s handling of the explosive “murder-for-hire” plot,” and the unfinished business of the U.S.-India civil nuclear deal.
Plus, the two discuss India’s relations with Russia and China and how the U.S. has managed tensions and opportunities in each. Finally, the duo debate how the outcome of the U.S. election might shape the trajectory of bilateral ties.
Episode notes:
1. Ashley J. Tellis, “Inevitable Fractures: The Ukraine War and the Global System,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, May 13, 2024.
2. Ashley J. Tellis, “Completing the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement: Fulfilling the Promises of a Summer Long Past,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, November 27, 2023.
3. “Reexamining America’s Bet on India (with Ashley J. Tellis),” Grand Tamasha, June 21, 2023.
4. Ashley J. Tellis, “America’s Bad Bet on India,” Foreign Affairs, May 1, 2023.
5. Ashley J. Tellis, Bibek Debroy, and C. Raja Mohan, Grasping Greatness: Making India a Leading Power (New Delhi: Penguin, 2022).
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Grand Tamasha
- Can India Thrive in Trump’s World?
- Inside Washington: Ami Bera on Shifting U.S.–India TiesPodcast Episode
Over the past two decades, Washington and New Delhi have drawn steadily closer—driven by shared concerns about China, expanding economic ties, and a growing Indian diaspora in the United States. To help us unpack all of this, this week Milan spoke with Congressman Ami Bera in his office on Capitol Hill.
Milan Vaishnav, Ami Bera
- India’s AI Moment?Podcast Episode
Just weeks ago, India hosted the 2026 AI Impact Summit, the latest chapter in a global process that began in 2023 in the UK. For the Modi government, the summit was part diplomatic showcase, part investment pitch, and part declaration of ambition. To talk more about the summit and its key takeaways, Milan is joined on the show this week by Anirudh Suri, a nonresident scholar with Carnegie India.
Milan Vaishnav, Anirudh Suri
- Populism and the Politics of India’s Foreign PolicyPodcast Episode
We tend to think of populist leaders around the world as disruptive. But a new book by scholars Sandra Destradi and Johannes Plagemann argues that the extent of change depends on key factors. Milan and Sandra discuss the definitional debates around populism, the conditional effects of populism on foreign policy, and the reasons for the Modi government’s differential approach to Pakistan and China.
Milan Vaishnav, Sandra Destradi
- Europe’s Discovery of IndiaPodcast Episode
Over the past year, Europe–India relations have entered a markedly upbeat phase. What was once a diffuse partnership now looks far more purposeful. To unpack what’s driving this convergence Milan is joined on the show this week by German Marshall Fund senior fellow Garima Mohan to discuss the geopolitical drivers that are bringing the EU and India closer together, Europe’s views on the limits to India’s potential, and the key takeaways from the EU-India FTA.
Milan Vaishnav, Garima Mohan
