Marco Rubio and the art of engaging India

April 22, 2015 13:39

Marco Rubio, the Republican Senator from Florida who has thrown his hat into the US presidential ring, has a declared interest in India, as evidenced by his signed oped in the Daily Signal ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US last September, in which he faulted the Obama administration for having neglected India post the George Bush administration's overtures.

But, points out Alyssa Ayres in the Centre for Foreign Relations' Asia Unbound blog, Rubio's action belie his words.

For instance, she writes, he has travelled to Afghanistan and Pakistan, but not to India.

Nor has he joined the Senate India Caucus, a bipartistan grouping that is 35 MPs strong.

He did not also meet with Modi during the latter's visit to the US.

But, writes Ayres, 'he has given India greater priority than other Republican candidates in the field thus far, and is on the record with his goals.'

She also notes that while India has 'by and large been a rare issue of bipartisan agreement, and many Democrats (including Hillary Clinton) have expressed the same policy views, no one expects India to be a major campaign issue, but it would be interesting if Rubio emerges as the nominee and accuses the Democrats of not doing enough to further ties with New Delhi.'

You can read the full article here.

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