India Also to Blame for Frosty U.S. Ties

The Obama administration has drawn much criticism for its perceived indifference to America's allies and friends in Asia and Europe. A good deal of this criticism has focused on the specific case of India. In the view of quite a number of U.S. observers, President Obama is taking New Delhi for granted, squandering the deep reservoir of diplomatic goodwill that his predecessor so assiduously built up.

Some have even sounded the alarm that Obama is "losing India," while others caution that the negligent treatment is pushing New Delhi closer to Moscow and Beijing. But part of the reason for Washington's languid engagement with New Delhi has to do with nagging doubts that India can deliver on dramatic initiatives, and there is good reason for this doubt.