India-US tie up induced by Indian polity and China
In diplomacy, optics matter, sometimes conveying the essence of a relationship to a varied audience in a manner that is often not possible by the more esoteric diplomatese embedded in joint statements and official remarks. All high-level foreign policy engagements are curated and carry with them a dose of theatre but as the dust settles, some become part of history and others are consigned to the dustbins of history. Now that the instant commentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US visit has been sufficiently generated, one can take a step back and assess the purpose behind the diplomatic choreography of last week in a manner that can do justice to this remarkable turn in India-US ties.
