Biden’s U-turn on Delhi trip won’t mar US-India ties amid ‘stable’ shared interests

Biden will reportedly skip a visit to India in January, which raised concerns if an alleged Indian assassination attempt on a US citizen has affected ties

The development also throws into uncertainty the timing of a Quad meeting – the alliance to counter China’s military – which was expected during Biden’s visit

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India’s PM Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden at the White House on June 23. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:30pm, 15 Dec 2023

US President Joe Biden’s U-turn on a New Delhi visit and the resulting uncertainty over a regional diplomatic alliance has raised concern whether an alleged Indian assassination attempt on an American citizen on US soil led to lingering tensions.

Biden is reportedly set to back out of plans to accept an invitation by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the country’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

The development also throws into uncertainty the timing for a Quad meeting, which was expected during Biden’s visit. With India, the United States, Australia and Japan as members, the Quad is a security network focused on providing an alternative to countering Chinese military and economic influence on other nations.

“It is most likely because of the whole [assassination attempt] issue that is coming up between India and the US,” said Manoj Joshi, a distinguished fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in Delhi.

The US had accused India in November of trying to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist leader who is an American citizen. Delhi subsequently set up a high-level probe into the allegations.