Why the US desperately needs India 

Whenever the leaders of the world’s biggest and second-biggest democracies meet, it’s bound to be an extraordinary occasion. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was fully on par with United States President Donald Trump as they walked side by side during an official visit to Washington this week by a man who at one time had been denied an entry visa to the US. 
As the world’s largest democracy by population, India can hold its head high in any company. Although much poorer than the US in terms of gross domestic product and per-capita earnings, India’s democratic values have earned the world’s admiration. It is a genuine people-led democracy. The same can’t be said of the United States, and now Trump is further damaging America’s standing overseas.
Both men, gifted performers on the public stage, showed by their body language that they were genuinely enjoying each other’s company. The “good chemistry”, to use the show-business term, was indicative of India’s importance to the US on both the economic and security fronts. Perhaps more than the White House would like to admit, American advances in high technology and global finance owe much to Indian intellect and innovation, as the 
wizards of Silicon Valley will attest.
This time Trump played the statesman role without veering off script. Just as he’d bad-mouthed China while campaigning, he passed judgement on India early on for the benefit of US voters, denigrating another of the world’s oldest civilisations. He complained that India had accepted billions of dollars to battle climate change and done nothing about the problem (not that Trump believes it’s a problem). But, just as happened when China’s Xi Jinping came to visit, Trump was all smiles for Modi (a “great prime minister”) and full of praise for India. Their countries’ bilateral ties had “never been stronger”, he declared.
It’s a wonder that these two giant bastions of democracy have not worked together to foster democracy elsewhere. The model they share could surely be emulated around the world. But it’s the low-key Indian 
variant of democracy promotion that developing countries admire rather than America’s high-pressure approach. The US has a tendency to bully, and it’s leaned heavily on 
India itself over climate change, trade and visa requirements.
Current uncertainties about Trump’s dealings with Russia and intentions for China have greatly increased India’s strategic value to Washington. Its economy is sturdy enough that it might be able to take some of the burden off the US on issues such as maritime security in Asia, on which India has close working relations with Southeast Asian countries. 
A strategic partnership is in fact of vital importance to the Americans. They recognise that, in Asia, only India has the political and economic clout to counter the rise of China. Trump’s predecessors, George W Bush and Barack Obama, understood this when they pushed for improved ties with Delhi and cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
India is meanwhile looking East and becoming more integrated with the further Asian community. Its membership in the Asean-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Cooperation testifies to its ambitions to solidify its foundations in this part of the world. If the US doesn’t cultivate the strongest possible bond with India, its own future role in the region  will be severely undermined.