There is a nice fit between a growing Asia’s demand for economic and military balance in the region and Modi’s Act East policy.
Delhi must try and build a stable balance of the power system in the region. That would demand greater military engagement with all the major powers, and not “military neutrality” between them.
U.S.-India relations have been advanced by both the Bush and Obama presidencies. However, there needs to be a stronger economic foundation for the strategic partnership.
The relationship between India and Egypt has declined over the years. But, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi should rebuild the friendship between Nehru and Nasser.
The Indian government should reshape recruitment and promotion processes for the Indian Administrative Service, improve performance-based assessment of individual officers, and adopt safeguards that promote accountability while protecting bureaucrats from political meddling.
Survey opinion research is an incredibly valuable tool, but there are challenges to measuring beliefs, drawing inferences, and using limited open data.
The signing of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement by India and the United States is the most recent step in the transformation of their bilateral relationship, but it does not create a military alliance.
The partnership between India and the United States has advanced significantly during the Obama administration. Now, Modi and Obama should push agreements forward before the next U.S. administration starts.
Corruption in the Pakistani military has been coming to light in recent months. It is still an extremely popular institution, but the balance of power in the country depends on the military maintaining a clean image.
India will only become a leading power when its economic foundations, state institutions, and military capabilities are truly robust.