India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, recently met with US Congressman Gregory Meeks to talk about the growing India-US relationship. This meeting happened amid some trade tensions caused by recent tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump.
Congressman Meeks, who is a top leader on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed strong support for the India-US partnership. He praised the close relationship that has developed over the past 25 years, especially through initiatives like the Quad, a strategic alliance between India, the US, Japan, and Australia.
However, Meeks also raised concerns about Trump’s tariffs, which he feels threaten this important partnership. He emphasized the need for respectful and fair cooperation between the two countries and said he is committed to strengthening ties.
In response, Ambassador Kwatra shared on social media that he briefed Meeks on recent developments in India-US relations. They discussed various topics such as trade, energy, regional security in the Indo-Pacific, and other issues of mutual interest.
This meeting is part of a series of discussions Ambassador Kwatra has had with US lawmakers from both Democrats and Republicans. Just earlier in the day, he also spoke with Representative Kat Cammack from Florida to discuss ways to boost bilateral relations based on shared values.
The background to these talks is the recent increase in trade tensions. In late August, former President Trump put a 50% tariff on Indian imports into the US — doubling the previous 25% duty. This move was in response to India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian oil during the Ukraine conflict, which Trump criticized.
Trump has called the India-US trade relationship a “disaster,” accusing India of high tariffs on American goods and profiting from Russian oil. Indian officials have strongly opposed these measures, calling them unfair and unjustified.
Despite the tensions, many US lawmakers, especially Democrats like Meeks, have shown support for India. In early August, he criticized Trump’s tariffs as “tantrums” that could undo years of effort to strengthen US-India ties. He also stressed that issues should be resolved respectfully, in line with shared democratic values.
As India works to navigate these trade challenges, both sides continue to engage in dialogue to find common ground and deepen their partnership.
