Elizabeth Roche

From South Korea and Turkey to the UK and the US, incumbent heads of state in most poll-bound countries are struggling to hold on to power and popularity.

Under Joe Biden, ties have seen a consolidation in areas like strategic technology and defence. And while Trump has been variously described as "transactional" and "whimsical", India has successfully navigated a Trump presidency in the past.

If India is able to manoeuvre through rough times today, some credit needs to go to Rao, who set India on this course economically and in terms of foreign policy, with a pair of steady hands.

From South Korea and Turkey to the UK and the US, incumbent heads of state in most poll-bound countries are struggling to hold on to power and popularity.

Under Joe Biden, ties have seen a consolidation in areas like strategic technology and defence. And while Trump has been variously described as "transactional" and "whimsical", India has successfully navigated a Trump presidency in the past.

If India is able to manoeuvre through rough times today, some credit needs to go to Rao, who set India on this course economically and in terms of foreign policy, with a pair of steady hands.