Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna sharply criticised US President Donald Trump, claiming that US-India relations have reached their lowest point in three decades because of Trump's policies. His remarks, made at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit in Washington, contrasted with the more optimistic assessment offered by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
Referring to a recent visit to China, Khanna said an Indian diplomat there told him that a "generation of trust" had been lost due to the Trump administration's actions. He argued that US-India ties are currently at their weakest level in the past 30 years.
Khanna also criticised Trump's decision to engage in conflict with Iran, calling it "utterly destructive" and claiming it had negatively affected fuel prices in India. He suggested that the consequences of these policies were being felt globally and said it was important to acknowledge their impact.
The California Democrat further attacked Trump's immigration policies, arguing that restrictions on immigrants and international students were damaging America's ability to attract global talent. He criticised what he described as the administration's demonisation of immigrants and pointed to the importance of foreign talent in fields such as artificial intelligence.
Highlighting the role of international researchers in AI, Khanna noted that a significant share of leading AI researchers are foreign-born or educated abroad, arguing that the United States should be focused on attracting talent rather than discouraging it.
Sergio Gor's Optimistic View
In contrast, Sergio Gor expressed confidence that the relationship between India and the United States would remain strong despite current challenges.
Recalling a recent conversation with an Indian minister, Gor said he was told that regardless of political developments or media narratives, the two countries would remain close partners even decades from now. He highlighted the shared democratic values of the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy as a foundation for the relationship.
Gor also suggested that India faces a difficult regional environment, noting that developments in neighbouring countries can quickly alter strategic dynamics. However, he maintained that the common interests and values shared by Washington and New Delhi make their partnership durable and sustainable.
Ongoing Challenges in Bilateral Relations
Relations between India and the United States have faced strains over issues such as tariffs, H-1B visa restrictions, and immigration policies. At the same time, Trump has repeatedly spoken positively about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as one of his favourite world leaders.
The two countries are also continuing negotiations on a trade agreement. While India and the US agreed on the legal framework of the deal earlier this year, the final agreement has yet to be signed.
