India's prime minister and US President Barack Obama will meet next week to enhance their relationship, as India becomes more involved in global issues like climate change and trade. Manmohan Singh's three-day state visit, starting on November 23, is seen as a test of Obama's commitment to maintaining the strong relationship that developed under George W. Bush. India is also seen as an important player in promoting stability in a region affected by violence in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and attacks like the ones in Mumbai last year. Singh and Obama will discuss a variety of topics, including reducing carbon emissions, defense contracts, and expediting the civilian nuclear deal signed last year. This visit will be the first state visit of the Obama administration, demonstrating Singh's efforts to strengthen ties with Western nations and move India away from its history of mistrust with Washington. The success of the trip will be determined by whether the two leaders can address any concerns about Washington's commitment to New Delhi in a region where it competes with China and Pakistan, which are both important U.S. foreign policy priorities. According to Walter Andersen of Johns Hopkins University's South Asia Studies center, the relationship between the two countries is good but lacks a significant defining issue like the civilian nuclear deal that characterized the relationship during George Bush's presidency. The visit presents an opportunity for India and the U.S. to introduce new ideas to revitalize their strategic relationship. President Bill Clinton initiated efforts to strengthen ties with modern India after the Cold War, and his successor, Bush, further enhanced relations with the 2008 civilian nuclear deal that ended a longstanding embargo imposed in 1974 following India's nuclear test. Trade between the two countries increased significantly from $5.6 billion in 1990 to around 43 billion in 2008, representing a 675 percent rise. However, Obama's early focus on Pakistan for combating the Taliban and emphasis on relations with China upset some in India, who had hoped to continue building on the progress made during Bush's presidency. While trade, climate change, defense sales, and counter-terrorism efforts between the two countries are positive and may improve further, there is a divergence in strategic priorities. The U.S. strategy for Afghanistan, which includes a focus on Pakistan as a key ally, has been criticized for not adequately addressing the concerns of regional players like India, which is vying with Pakistan for influence in Kabul. India and Pakistan have engaged in three conflicts since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. India is concerned about China's growing influence on the U.S. economy, which it sees as leverage that Beijing holds over Washington. Additionally, India is uneasy about Chinese support for Pakistan. On the other hand, Beijing is worried about the presence of the Dalai Lama in India. Chintamani Mahapatra, a foreign policy professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, explains that India becomes anxious when it perceives President Obama's focus on China and Pakistan. The Obama administration needs to acknowledge India's growing role in the region and address concerns about New Delhi being marginalized. Despite this, Washington recognizes India's economic power, large market, thriving IT industry, military strength, and its potential as a counterbalance to China. Prime Minister Singh will address challenging issues such as the stalled nuclear deal and India's desire for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council during discussions with Obama. Consultant Frank Wisner, former U.S. ambassador to India, emphasized the importance of discussing strategy, economics, and global issues during the meeting. If we want to accomplish any of our goals, it is important for us to have the cooperation of India.