US lawmakers on Wednesday expressed concern that recent US policy decisions towards India could complicate bilateral relations and warned that a coercive approach could erode long-standing strategic cooperation between Washington and New Delhi.
The comments were made during a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia titled “US-India Strategic Partnership: Ensuring a Free and Open Indo-Pacific Region,” where lawmakers discussed the evolving dynamics of US-India relations in the context of global geopolitical competition.
Why Modi-Putin photo appeared in Congress hearing?
US Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove presented a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin, taken during Putin’s recent visit to India, to highlight her concerns about the direction of US policy towards Delhi.
“Trump’s India policy can only be described as cutting off our noses to put our faces against each other… Being a coercive partner costs something. And this poster is worth a thousand words.”
She argued that U.S. policy decisions inadvertently weaken American influence rather than strengthen it. Using the image of Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi as a prop, she warned that Washington was pushing India closer to Moscow – and that it was the United States, not New Delhi, that was undermining the partnership.
“You won’t win a Nobel Peace Prize by driving US strategic partners into the arms of our adversaries. We must with incredible urgency reverse the damage this administration has done to the US-India partnership and return to the cooperation essential to US prosperity, security and global leadership…”
How did Congress assess India’s strategic position?
Representative Ami Bera acknowledged that images of India’s leadership in contact with Russia and China had caused unease among some members of Congress, but stressed his belief that India remains guided by long-term strategic considerations.
“… The ranking member had a picture of PM Modi with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. This is giving people in Congress heartburn. But I think India understands their long-term interests. They have to co-exist with China… But they also understand that their long-term interests lie with the West…”
Bera emphasized that India’s geopolitical realities require engagement across multiple power centers while maintaining deep ties with Western partners.
What concerns have been raised about the US visa policy and talent policy?
Bera pointed to US visa policy as an area in need of recalibration and warned that restrictive measures could harm US innovation and competitiveness.
“The The $100,000 H-1B fee hurts American companies. I’m glad I’ve heard the president every now and then say, ‘Hey, wait a minute, we need this talent and these relationships.’…”
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He added, “… I hope we can work together in Congress to come up with a visa that will allow Indian scientists to travel back and forth to the United States, as well as American scientists and engineers to move back and forth to India…”
According to Bera, highly skilled professionals from India do not pose a visa overstay risk and are essential to the US technology and research ecosystem.
Trump and the H-1B visa debate
During Donald Trump’s administration, H-1B policy has become a centerpiece of reforms: The White House has pushed a “Buy American, Hire American” agenda that has increased screening of H-1B petitions and tightened eligibility standards, and agencies have taken actions that have increased compliance costs for some employers.
What has Trump done with the H-1B system in 2025?
The Trump administration has imposed sweeping new fees and restrictions on the H-1B visa program as part of what officials have described as an effort to curb fraud, reduce reliance on foreign workers and prioritize domestic labor markets.
Most controversial change: The proposed $100,000 H-1B fee
The Trump administration has imposed a one-time fee of about $100,000 on companies applying for certain H-1B workers.
This number was not a legal USCIS filing fee. It was reported as a policy proposal under review within DHS and the White House.
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Analysts noted that this figure represents a combination of the proposed levy + compliance, legal and processing burdens, which together are estimated to cost employers nearly $100,000 per hire.
Additional fee increases and documentation requirements
Also manage:
- Increased processing and anti-fraud fees for several categories of employers.
- She kept stricter recovery documentation.
- He requested another confirmation from the employer about the domestic recruitment.
- Increased control applied to large companies with a high proportion of foreign workers.
How did Trump justify tightening the H-1B policy in 2025?
Trump and senior officials have argued in 2025 that reforms are needed to:
- reduce perceived abuse of the program,
- discourage dependence on foreign workers,
- and to “protect American jobs,” as the president often put it
Did Trump later signal a turnaround in talent-based immigration?
Yes – and this shift was clear in the mid to late 2025s.
In the face of heavy lobbying from the tech sector, semiconductor makers, AI labs and research universities — groups that argued the new fees would stifle innovation — Trump publicly acknowledged the importance of retaining skilled migrants.
What did US lawmakers say about India’s relationship with Russia?
In Washington DC, Bera acknowledged concerns about India’s proximity to Moscow, but described the relationship as historically grounded rather than unexpected.
“…We have some concerns about India’s proximity to Russia, but that is only to be expected based on historical standards.”
He suggested that India could play a constructive diplomatic role amid ongoing international efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Read also | RIL stops importing Russian crude from November 20 to comply with EU ban
“I would encourage India to do that the president genuinely wants to find an end to the conflict in Ukraine. India can play a unique role given their lines of communication with the Russians…”
How do policymakers see India’s global role evolving?
Bera said India’s drive to assume a greater global role brings with it greater responsibility in moments of international crisis.
“… This is the time for India, which wants to take a bigger role on the global stage, to step up…”
He added that cooperation with India will remain important even after the end of the conflict in Ukraine.
“… When this conflict is over, we’re going to have to work together to figure out how to bring Russia back into the fold.”
(Note: These are the views and opinions of US lawmakers and do not represent the views of Mint as a feature)
US-India relations under Trump – Tariffs, oil and strategic friction
US-India relations during Trump’s presidency have been marked by both strategic cooperation and significant economic disagreements, particularly on trade and energy policy.
Why did Trump impose tariffs on India?
Trump has repeatedly criticized India’s trade policies and accused Delhi of maintaining high tariffs on American goods. He often referred to India as a “tariff king” while justifying the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US.
As part of this approach, the Trump administration has imposed or threatened tariffs on a number of Indian exports, arguing that the US-India trade relationship was unbalanced and unfair to American businesses.
These measures were presented as leverage to force market access reforms rather than a rejection of a broader strategic partnership.
How did Russian oil purchases translate into US pressure?
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Indian refiners became one of the biggest buyers of discounted Russian marine crude, a development documented by industry and shipping data, according to Reuters.
Trump has publicly criticized countries that have continued to buy Russian oil, including India, arguing that such purchases indirectly undermine Western pressure on Moscow.
Read also | Oil prices rise on reports India may cut Russian oil imports
Tariffs and trade pressure have been proposed by the administration of the US President as tools to discourage these transactions.
Trump has on occasion claimed that India has reduced or halted purchases of Russian oil – a claim not formally confirmed by the Indian government; independent trade data shows that India continued to import significant volumes of Russian oil through most of 2025.
How did Trump describe India in applying pressure?
Trump’s rhetoric toward India has often mixed praise and criticism. While stressing strong personal ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stressing common strategic interests, he also used harsh language on trade.
The president has publicly criticized India’s tariff policy — at one point referring to New Delhi as a “tariff king” — while pushing for change through trade measures.
