The Congress on Thursday sounded an alarm over what it describes as a “sharp deterioration” in India-US relations, asserting that the bilateral partnership is entering a volatile “new abnormal” phase. Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s early outreach to the White House during President Donald Trump’s second term, the Opposition party warned that personal diplomacy has failed to insulate India from emerging sanctions threats, protectionist trade proposals, and diplomatic signals that have caused “extreme discomfiture” in New Delhi.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh noted that the current instability persists even though the prime minister was among the first world leaders to visit Washington following the US election. “Indo-US relations are going through very turbulent times in spite of the PM being among the first to land up in the White House during Trump 2.0,” Ramesh stated, adding that “there is undoubtedly a ‘new abnormal’ in the bilateral relationship”.
The Congress leader specifically highlighted a legislative push by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham — a prominent ally of President Trump — to impose sweeping sanctions on India due to its ongoing trade and energy ties with Russia. This is compounded by earlier proposals from Senator Bernie Moreno, which suggest a 25 percent tax on “outsourcing payments” made by American companies. Such a move could deal a significant blow to India’s vital IT and services sectors, which have long been a cornerstone of the economic relationship.
Furthermore, Ramesh pointed to recent diplomatic rhetoric from Washington that has rankled officials in New Delhi. “To add to India’s extreme discomfiture, President Trump continues to shower lavish praise on Field Marshal Asim Munir,” Ramesh said, referring to the Pakistan army chief. He argued that these signals suggest a shift in the regional balance, remarking that “every day is a fresh challenge, appeasing posts from the PM notwithstanding.”
This friction comes at a time when the two nations have spent a decade branding their ties as a “comprehensive global strategic partnership,” with deep cooperation in defense, critical minerals, and the Indo-Pacific. However, the relationship has historically faced friction over India’s “strategic autonomy,” particularly its refusal to sever ties with Russia following the Ukraine conflict. While New Delhi maintains that its foreign policy is guided by national interest, the renewed US focus on transactional trade and strict sanctions enforcement has created a more complex landscape.
The Congress party’s critique underscores a broader argument that the Modi government relies too heavily on “optics” and personal chemistry rather than navigating the structural shifts in American policy.
While the government was yet to respond directly to Ramesh’s statement, it has consistently maintained that the relationship is resilient and that any differences are managed through institutional dialogue. Nevertheless, the combination of legislative pressure in Washington and unpredictable diplomatic shifts suggests that India may be heading into a period of increasingly tough negotiations with its most important Western partner.