President Obama is likely to get a friendly but subdued welcome when he begins his visit to India on Saturday.
Many Indians feel that the United States has neglected India, while cultivating strategic relations with its military rival, Pakistan.
That perception will be tough to overcome as Obama seeks India’s help on a range of issues, from helping to balance the growing power of China to supporting the government of Afghanistan.
It could also hamper the president’s efforts to open some key U.S. business opportunities in India.
A couple of things …
1. The Indians are correct in fearing that Wal-Marts in India could
“steamroller” all those mom-and-pop businesses.
2. Obama and the U.S. do have some leverage. Think of the H1-B
visas which have brought so many low-wage Indian engineers and
technicians to the U.S. – a wagebusting technique.