• Research
  • Politika
  • About
Carnegie Russia Eurasia center logoCarnegie lettermark logo
  • Donate
{
  "authors": [
    "Ashley J. Tellis"
  ],
  "type": "other",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "SAP",
  "programs": [
    "South Asia"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "North America",
    "United States",
    "South Asia",
    "India"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Foreign Policy"
  ]
}

Source: Getty

Other

Obama in India: Building a Global Partnership: Challenges, Risks, Opportunities

India’s rapid emergence as a major international entity gives it the potential to become America’s most strategic partner and help the United States manage China’s rise, promote the balance of power in Asia, and protect broader American interests.

Link Copied
By Ashley J. Tellis
Published on Oct 27, 2010

As President Obama prepares to visit India next month, he has an historic opportunity to reinvigorate U.S.-India relations after several years of drift. In a Policy Outlook, Ashley J. Tellis writes that India’s rapid emergence as a major international entity—it is expected to become the third or fourth most powerful country by mid-century—gives it the potential to become America’s most strategic partner. A strong bilateral relationship with India will also help the United States manage China’s rise, promote the balance of power in Asia, and protect broader American interests.

Key Recommendations:

  • Pay greater attention to India. While Obama has largely focused on competing priorities—including the troubled U.S. economy and ongoing wars abroad—Washington must devote more resources to New Delhi to strengthen long-term ties.

  • Reaffirm U.S. support. The White House should endorse India’s quest for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, assimilate India more quickly into the global nonproliferation regime, and enhance bilateral cooperation in multiple areas to strengthen the U.S.-India relationship.

  • Approach relations differently. Rather than viewing U.S.-India relations in purely transactional terms, Obama should seek to strengthen India’s national capacity so it can partner with the United States as a friendly democratic power.

“By reaffirming the U.S. commitment to aid India’s growth in power and emphasizing America’s fellowship with India … Obama can help bring the two countries together on shared interests and move their relationship forward significantly,” Tellis writes.

Ashley J. Tellis
Former Senior Fellow
Foreign PolicyNorth AmericaUnited StatesSouth AsiaIndia

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 Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Signs of an Imminent End to the Ukraine War Are Deceptive

    The main source of Russian aggression is a profound mistrust of the West and the firm belief that it intends to inflict a “strategic defeat” on Russia. As long as this fear persists, the war will not end.

      Tatiana Stanovaya

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Japan’s “Militarist Turn” and What It Means for Russia

    For a real example of political forces engaged in the militarization of society, the Russian leadership might consider looking closer to home.

      James D.J. Brown

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Russia Won’t Give Up Its Influence in Armenia Without a Fight

    Instead of a guaranteed ally, the Kremlin now perceives Armenia as yet another hybrid battlefield where it is fighting the West.

      Mikayel Zolyan

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    A New World Police: How Chinese Security Became a Global Export

    China has found a unique niche for itself within the global security ecosystem, eschewing military alliances to instead bolster countries’ internal stability using law enforcement. Authoritarian regimes from the Central African Republic to Uzbekistan are signing up.

      Temur Umarov

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Lithuania’s Potash Dilemma Raises Questions About Sanctions’ Effectiveness

    What should happen when sanctions designed to weaken the Belarusian regime end up enriching and strengthening the Kremlin?  

      Denis Kishinevsky

Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
Carnegie Russia Eurasia logo, white
  • Research
  • Politika
  • About
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.