US lawmakers on Wednesday expressed concern that latest American coverage decisions in direction of India may complicate bilateral relations, warning {that a} coercive method dangers undermining long-standing strategic cooperation between Washington DC and New Delhi.
The feedback have been made throughout a listening to of the Home International Affairs South and Central Asia Subcommittee titled “The US–India Strategic Partnership: Securing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific”, the place legislators mentioned the evolving dynamics of the US–India relationship within the context of world geopolitical competitors.
Why did a Modi–Putin {photograph} characteristic within the congressional listening to?
US Consultant Sydney Kamlager-Dove introduced {a photograph} of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin, taken throughout Putin’s latest go to to India, to underscore her issues in regards to the route of US coverage in direction of New Delhi.
“Trump’s insurance policies in direction of India can solely be described as slicing our nostril to spite our face… Being a coercive accomplice has a price. And this poster is price a thousand phrases.”
She argued that US coverage choices have been inadvertently weakening American affect quite than strengthening it. Utilizing the picture of Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi as a prop, she warned that Washington is pushing India nearer to Moscow — and that it’s the United States, not New Delhi, undermining the partnership.
“You don’t get a Nobel Peace Prize by driving US strategic companions into the arms of our adversaries. We should transfer with unbelievable urgency to mitigate the harm that this administration has completed to the US-India partnership and return to the cooperation that’s important to US prosperity, safety, and international management…”
How did Congress assess India’s strategic positioning?
Consultant Ami Bera acknowledged that pictures of India’s management participating with Russia and China generated unease amongst some members of Congress, however emphasised his perception that India stays guided by long-term strategic concerns.
“… The rating member had an image of Prime Minister Modi with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. That does trigger some heartburn for people in Congress. But it surely’s my evaluation that India understands their long-term pursuits. They must coexist with China… However additionally they perceive their long-term pursuits lie with the West…”
Bera confused that India’s geopolitical realities necessitate engagement throughout a number of energy centres whereas sustaining deep ties with Western companions.
What issues have been raised about US visa and expertise insurance policies?
Bera pointed to US visa coverage as an space requiring recalibration, warning that restrictive measures may hurt American innovation and competitiveness.
“The $100,000 payment on the H-1Bs hurts American corporations. I am glad that I’ve heard the president at occasions say, ‘hey, wait a minute, we want this expertise and these relationships.’…”
He added:”… I hope we will work collectively in Congress to provide you with a visa that enables Indian scientists to journey backwards and forwards to the US, in addition to US scientists and engineers to maneuver backwards and forwards to India…”
In line with Bera, extremely expert professionals from India don’t pose a threat of visa overstays and are important to the US know-how and analysis ecosystem.
Trump and the H-1B visa debate
Throughout Donald Trump’s administration, H-1B coverage turned a focus of reform: the White Home pursued a ‘Purchase American, Rent American’ agenda that elevated vetting of H-1B petitions and tightened eligibility requirements, and companies adopted measures that raised compliance prices for some employers.
What did Trump do to the H-1B system in 2025?
The Trump administration launched sweeping new charges and restrictions on the H-1B visa programme as a part of what officers described as an effort to cut back fraud, curb dependency on overseas employees, and prioritise home labour markets.
Probably the most controversial change: A proposed $100,000 H-1B payment
The Trump administration imposed a one-time payment of roughly $100,000 on corporations petitioning for sure H-1B employees.
The determine was not a statutory USCIS submitting payment. It was reported as a coverage proposal below evaluation inside DHS and the White Home.
Analysts famous that the quantity represented a mixture of a proposed levy + compliance, authorized, and processing burdens, which collectively have been estimated to convey the employer value near $100,000 per rent.
Further payment will increase and documentation necessities
The administration additionally:
- Raised processing and anti-fraud charges for a number of classes of employers.
- Imposed stricter renewal documentation.
- Requested further employer attestations about home recruitment.
- Elevated the scrutiny utilized to massive corporations with excessive proportions of overseas employees.
How did Trump justify the 2025 H-1B coverage tightening?
Trump and senior officers argued in 2025 that reforms have been wanted to:
- scale back perceived misuse of the programme,
- discourage dependence on overseas employees,
- and “shield American jobs,” because the president typically phrased it
Did Trump later sign a reversal on talent-based immigration?
Sure — and this shift was specific in mid- and late-2025.
Dealing with robust lobbying from the know-how sector, semiconductor producers, AI laboratories, and analysis universities — teams that argued the brand new charges would constrain innovation — Trump publicly acknowledged the significance of retaining expert migrants.
What did US lawakers say about India’s relationship with Russia?
Whereas acknowledging issues in Washington DC about India’s closeness with Moscow, Bera described the connection as traditionally grounded quite than surprising.
“… We do have some issues about India’s closeness with Russia, however simply based mostly on historic norms, that is to be anticipated.”
He steered India may play a constructive diplomatic function amid ongoing worldwide efforts to finish the conflict in Ukraine.
“What I wish to encourage India to do is that the president sincerely desires to discover a cessation to the battle in Ukraine. India can play a novel function given their strains of communication with the Russians…”
How do lawmakers see India’s international function evolving?
Bera mentioned India’s aspiration to imagine a bigger international function brings with it larger duty in moments of worldwide disaster.
“… This can be a time for India, which desires to take a much bigger function on the worldwide stage, to step up…”
He added that cooperation with India would stay vital even after the battle in Ukraine ends.
“… When this battle ends, we’re going to must work collectively to determine how one can convey Russia again into the fold.”
(Be aware: These are the opinions and views of US lawmakers, and don’t characterize Mint’s views in an capability)
US–India relations below Trump — tariffs, oil and strategic friction
US–India relations throughout Trump’s presidency have been marked by each strategic cooperation and vital financial disagreements, significantly over commerce and power coverage.
Why did Trump impose tariffs on India?
Trump repeatedly criticised India’s commerce insurance policies, accusing New Delhi of sustaining excessive tariffs on American items. He ceaselessly referred to India as a “tariff king” whereas justifying reciprocal duties imposed by the US.
As a part of this method, the Trump administration imposed or threatened tariffs on a variety of Indian exports, arguing that the US–India commerce relationship was unbalanced and unfair to American companies.
These measures have been introduced as leverage to compel market entry reforms quite than as a rejection of the broader strategic partnership.
How did Russian oil purchases issue into US stress?
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Indian refiners turned among the many largest patrons of discounted Russian seaborne crude, a growth documented by business and transport information, as reported by Reuters.
Trump publicly criticised nations that continued shopping for Russian oil, together with India, arguing that such purchases not directly undermined Western stress on Moscow.
Tariffs and commerce stress have been framed by the US President’s administration as instruments to discourage these transactions.
Trump has every now and then asserted that India had diminished or ceased purchases of Russian oil — a declare the Indian authorities has not formally confirmed; unbiased commerce information present India continued to import vital volumes of Russian crude by way of a lot of 2025.
How did Trump describe India whereas making use of stress?
Trump’s rhetoric in direction of India typically mixed reward and criticism. Whereas he highlighted robust private ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and emphasised shared strategic pursuits, he concurrently used sharp language on commerce.
The president publicly criticised India’s tariff insurance policies — at one level referring to New Delhi as a ‘tariff king’ — whereas urgent for modifications by way of commerce measures.
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