At the Raisina Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi, Bonnie Glick, an adjunct senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the United States is focused on preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon by targeting its ballistic missile capabilities. She told ANI the strategic objective is to ensure Tehran can never field a nuclear armament and that degrading missile systems emanating from Iran is central to that aim.
Glick stressed that Israel and other U.S. partners are equally alarmed by Iran’s financial and military support for proxy groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. She described recent military moves as a sort of final response to prolonged regional instability and asserted that Iran’s leadership and proxy networks have been weakened, citing a series of targeted strikes and other actions that have increased global concern over Iran-backed actors.
Asked how long operations might last, Glick expressed cautious optimism. She noted President Trump expects the campaign to run about four to five weeks and said she hopes that timetable proves accurate. She also highlighted close coordination between U.S. and Israeli air forces aimed at removing Tehran’s ability to wage broader attacks.
Glick addressed a separate but related economic issue: a 30-day waiver allowing Indian refineries to buy Russian oil. She said Washington is mindful of global economic stability amid conflicts in Iran and Europe and does not want to trigger a wider economic shutdown. Allowing key trading partners to continue functioning, she argued, serves U.S. interests as well.
Responding to remarks from U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau suggesting India might not receive the same treatment previously extended to China, Glick called the situations ‘‘apples and oranges.’’ She described China’s 2001 admission to the WTO as a miscalculation because of unfair trade practices, while characterizing India as a vibrant democracy with a market-oriented economy. Her comments echoed the idea that ‘‘friends should trade fairly with each other.’’
Dhruva Jaishankar, executive director of ORF America, told ANI that India’s top priority is protecting its large Gulf diaspora—roughly 10 million people, a population comparable to Israel’s. Energy security and access to commodities are the next major concerns. Jaishankar said New Delhi wants the conflict to end quickly and is using diplomatic channels to remain engaged with all parties.
On economic ties with the United States, Jaishankar framed frank disagreements as part of a mature partnership: each country acts according to its own interests, and occasional differences are often resolved privately even when they surface publicly.
(Note: This item is from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The publisher assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.)
