India, Sept. 13 -- Just as the US ambassador-designate Sergio Gor admitted to "minor hiccups" in India-US ties and assured that the two countries are "not that far apart right now on a (trade) deal", one could ask how badly damaged the relationship is. What impact could improving relations between Washington and Beijing have on India's relationship with America? And if India doesn't stop buying Russian oil could we see a second or, even, third phase of additional tariffs?

Former foreign secretary Shyam Saran believes "this is certainly a most challenging time for Indian diplomacy. There is no doubt that we are perhaps in a more vulnerable situation than we've been for quite some time". Meanwhile, there have been positive exchanges betwee...