India’s foreign policy remains cautious and unimaginative

INDIA STAYED aloof during the cold war, happy to be the flag-bearer for non-aligned nations. With the rise of China and the retreat of America transforming international relations, and with India’s growing sense of its destiny as a soon-to-be great power, some observers believed its foreign policy might change, too. Yet Narendra Modi has struggled to match the country’s big ambitions with its still-limited capabilities.

The relationship with America has grown closer. But for all the razzmatazz of Mr Modi’s recent rally with Donald Trump in Houston, there has been little progress on difficult issues. A mooted trade deal fizzled as the American team blamed India for protectionist policies. Mr Trump shook his head at India’s “very aggressive” tone towards Pakistan. And, though Mr Modi loudly endorsed Mr Trump, that may look less wise as impeachment proceedings against the erratic American president unfold.

There are particular pitfalls to dealing with the Trump administration. Yet the mix of going big on public relations while reaping relatively small political dividends seems to be a signature of Mr Modi’s foreign policy. He has shared photo opportunities with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping as often as with Mr Trump, with similarly scant returns. Russia, long India’s main source of weapons, now sells weapons to Pakistan,...