For more than two decades, American presidents have invested high hopes in a deepening U.S. relationship with India, the world's largest democracy — as they almost invariably mention.
And at first glance, India looks like a natural U.S. ally, not only an electoral democracy but a rapidly growing economy that fears the expanding power of China.
Last year, President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Washington and declared a "global strategic partnership" — not quite a formal alliance, but the next best thing.
