Overview
- At the USISPF Leadership Summit on Monday, Representative Ro Khanna said the U.S. relationship with India is at its weakest point in 30 years and quoted an Indian diplomat saying “a generation of trust has been lost.”
- Khanna blamed recent U.S. military action in Iran for driving up energy costs in India and said last year’s tariffs and new visa limits have unpredictably eroded trust between the two countries.
- U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor delivered a contrasting message at the same summit, saying bilateral friendship is durable and that officials in New Delhi expect the relationship to last for decades.
- Khanna warned visa restrictions harm U.S. competitiveness in technology, citing data on AI researchers with foreign training, and argued that restricting talent recruitment undermines the bilateral partnership.
- The dispute exposes a visible split in Washington over tactics and messaging that could slow a pending trade deal and shape future cooperation on economics, energy and talent mobility.