John Kerry, Chuck Hagel visits partly successful in putting Indo-US relations back on track

NEW DELHI: Two big visits – Secretary of State and Defence Secretary – from the US in successive weeks have tried to set in motion the partnership that has been under stress since 2011.

The two nations have realised that a lot of work is needed in defence, nuclear energy, migration issues and WTO matters as PM Narendra Modi prepares for his trip to the US next month.

While Secretary of State John Kerry and Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel’s hopes were raised with the Modi government inviting investments in key sectors, differences continue of persist on a range of issues that will shape bilateral ties in the years to come.

The atmospherics, however, have been positive in the past two weeks for substantive engagement in future, key government officials told ET. “A lot will depend on the treatment that’s given to Modi during the trip. Atmospherics during the visit will shape ties. If the PM doesn’t feel comfortable, it may not bode well for the relationship. A good chemistry between President Obama and Modi is essential to address the irritants and set the tone,” noted foreign policy expert and former High Commissioner to Pakistan G Parthasarathy.