Modi’s First Year in Review: A New Start for US-India Relations?

As the Modi government crosses its one-year mark, pundits are singing its praises for prioritizing foreign policy. The revival of the partnership with the US is one of Modi’s proudest accomplishments so far. Particularly after Obama’s visit in January this year, many already saw the start of a new phase in US-India relations.

This observation stemmed from the fact that Obama is only the first US president to be the guest of honor on India’s Republic Day celebrations – the most important formal invitation India offers to heads of states. It is clear that this visit was important and a departure from previous policies on many levels, but does it go beyond symbolism and the individual rapport the two leaders obviously share? A closer look at the two leaders’ joint declaration reveals that it is far from a complete reboot of US-India relations as many foreign policy commentators have proclaimed, nor does it represent a US ​“pivot” to India.

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