Damage Control Diplomacy in New Delhi The arrival of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in India this weekend is a stark reminder that even the most optimistic expectations can be quickly dashed by the harsh realities of geopolitics.
Rubio's confirmation as Secretary of State last year sparked fireworks of optimism in New Delhi, where policymakers anticipated an unprecedented alignment with the United States.
However, those hopes have been tempered by the transactional politics and structural deadlock that has come to characterize the relationship between Washington and New Delhi.