India, Feb. 18 -- Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi confronts problems directly. His visit to Washington DC, straight into the lion's den, was proof of Modi's willingness to do so. And it paid off. The visit went off without any embarrassing incident, a fact that can never be taken for granted when Donald Trump is around. Trump was more personally effusive about Modi than he is about foreign leaders. And the joint statement laid out a truly ambitious blueprint to deepen defence, economic and technology ties.

But pleasing Trump involved making serious commitments that will test Indian economic policymakers, the defence establishment, and the political leadership in the next six months. Trump is likely to make his visit to Delhi and appear...