Obama-Modi Meet in India

 President Obama and PM Modi in Washington  (Photo: white house.gov)

U.S. President Barack Obama is in India this weekend for his second visit to the country. He will be attending India’s Republic Day ceremonies on January 26, as its chief guest at the invitation of India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi. India has figured large on the American agenda this year with the arrival of a new ambassador of Indian-American background, a visit by Secretary of State John Kerry, and finally Mr. Obama.

There are several substantive issues that will be discussed including

• Defense
• Climate change
• Trade

 Mr. Obama is accompanied by U.S. business leaders, and a key Defense Department official has also visited India prior to the presidential visit to discuss possibilities for co-development and cop-production of hi-tech military equipment under the Defense Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI). During the time Mr. Obama is in India there will also be a meeting of the U.S.-India Business council, and top CEOs will have a chance to discuss important bilateral issues and possible trade deals.

 While some breakthroughs and progress might be made during this visit, what might be the real breakthrough is a resetting and warming of the U.S.-India relationship that has been somewhat cool in the past few years. The chemistry between Mr. Modi and Mr. Obama might set the stage for more movement forward for the relationship itself, and for the issues of interest to the two great powers.