But concerns on both sides remain unresolved
US Secretary of State John Kerry came to India for two reasons: To prepare the right atmospherics for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to the US in September, and to boost bilateral ties through the Fifth India-US Strategic Dialogue. On both counts, he has been largely successful. A US tour by Mr Modi has long been shrouded in the visa controversy that goes back to 2005. Washington, DC, refused him permission to travel to that country on the ground that he, as Chief Minister of Gujarat at that time, was allegedly involved in the communal violence that had rocked his State three years earlier. Though much water has flowed under the bridge since then, the visa issue remains an embarrassing sticking point. It deserves to be buried for good, and towards that end, Secretary Kerry has made all the right noises. Having underlined the fact that the visa was denied by a previous Administration, he has made it clear that the incumbent regime in Washington wishes to start with a clean slate. He has also left no stone unturned to signal to Mr Modi that the Obama Administration is more than happy to work with him and his Government. Not only did Secretary Kerry heap praises on the Prime Minister during the Press conference on Thursday, he even spoke in Mr Modi's language to demonstrate a shared commitment. He noted that Mr Modi's idea for inclusive development, ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas’, was “not unlike” President Barack Obama's vision. Similarly, while speaking on the need for greater cooperation in the energy sector, he referred to Mr Modi's ‘saffron revolution’, and observed that the colour represents energy.
As regards the Strategic Dialogue, all available reports suggest that it was a fruitful exercise. The dialogue came at a time when the India-US bilateral had stagnated, partly because of domestic bottlenecks and partly because of a lack of sustained political support from the top. Several projects and agreements, that had been signed amidst hype and show by leaders from both countries, have since failed to take off, as lawyers and bureaucrats on both ends quibble over the fine print. Delhi and Washington, once celebrated as natural partners of the 21st century, have been drifting apart for years. The Devyani Khobragade fiasco was a painful symptom of that. A new and more purposeful Government in Delhi, coupled with a stronger political push from Washington, should now turn things around. In this context, the US Defence Secretary's visit next Friday holds much promise, given how defence trade and cooperation has grown.
But challenges to the bilateral also remain — and they need to be resolved. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj raised the matter of espionage and insisted that spying on friendly countries was “unacceptable”. She also noted that proposed changes to US immigration laws were detrimental to the interests of major Indian information technology companies that operate in the US. On his part, Secretary Kerry raised the issue of trade barriers that India has set up over the years and urged the Government to let the Indian market become more competitive. He also highlighted the stalled negotiations at the WTO where New Delhi has opposed a deal that limits farm subsidies.