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الوسم: US-India

  • India Voices US Visa Concerns but Finds Common Ground with Rubio

    India Voices US Visa Concerns but Finds Common Ground with Rubio

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar attend a joint press conference at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on May 24, 2026. — Reuters
    • Rubio states that US immigration reforms are not targeted at India.
    • He mentions that every country has its share of foolish individuals.
    • Jaishankar emphasizes that legal mobility should remain unaffected under US regulations.

    NEW DELHI: India raised concerns on Sunday regarding a recent US visa crackdown, a rare critique even while expressing general alignment with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on other contentious topics.

    During his first visit to India, Rubio indicated that the two democracies shared common positions on major issues, putting aside recent tensions over trade, China, and Iran.

    Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar acknowledged that both nations have a “convergence of national interests” but publicly addressed Rubio’s concerns about visa policies implemented by President Donald Trump.

    Jaishankar highlighted that he “informed Secretary Rubio about challenges faced by legitimate travelers regarding visa processing.”

    “While we collaborate to prevent illegal and irregular migration, we expect that lawful mobility will not be negatively impacted,” he added, underscoring the importance of visas for U.S.-India technological cooperation.

    Trump has made efforts to restrict non-Western immigration, significantly increasing hurdles and fees for H-1B visas used predominantly by Indian tech professionals, leading to a sharp decline in applications.

    Following up on recent policies, the Trump administration announced that even lawfully present applicants for permanent residency must leave the U.S. for processing, potentially splitting families for long periods.

    His stance stems from critics who claim Indian workers displace skilled American workers, arguing they take jobs Americans could fill and often earn higher wages.

    Last month, Trump reposted a far-right commentator who called India a “hellhole” and falsely claimed Indian immigrants lack proficiency in English.

    Commenting on racist comments about Indians in the U.S., Rubio remarked, “Every country has its share of foolish individuals.”

    “Our nation has been enriched by people who come here,” Rubio, whose parents are Cuban immigrants, stated.

    He clarified that these immigration policies are not specific to India but are responses to broader migration issues in the United States.

    Shared on All Fronts

    Rubio, undertaking a rare extensive four-day, four-city visit to India, called the country “one of our most important strategic partners in the world.”

    “It’s based on our shared values. We are the two largest democracies,” he said.

    “Our nations are strategically aligned on all the critical issues shaping the future — tackling the major challenges of the modern era,” Rubio asserted.

    This level of partnership declaration would have been notable two decades ago, as Washington prioritized strengthening ties with India, a nation with over a billion people.

    However, recent shifts in US foreign policy under Trump have disrupted previous assumptions. He temporarily imposed tariffs on India, visited China with a friendly tone last week, and has shown support for Pakistan, which has positioned itself as a mediator in Iran-related conflicts.

    Pakistan has also praised Trump’s diplomacy during last year’s brief conflict with India, which was triggered after unprovoked Indian strikes following an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India was critical of Trump for not crediting him with ending the conflict.

  • Trump reminisces about his meeting with India’s Modi

    Trump reminisces about his meeting with India’s Modi

    U.S. President Donald Trump (right) welcomes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House in Washington on June 27, 2017. — Reuters

    President Donald Trump of the United States shared details of a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revealing that Modi requested permission to meet with him.

    Speaking at the House GOP Member Retreat, Trump discussed the ongoing demand for the U.S.-made Apache helicopters, noting India has been waiting five years for these military aircraft.

    Trump mentioned that India ordered 68 Apache helicopters, and recalled that Modi approached him with a request: “Sir, may I see you please?” Trump responded simply, “Yes.”

    The president also acknowledged that Modi wasn’t entirely pleased with him due to tariffs imposed by Washington on India for buying Russian oil.

    “I have a very good relationship with him. He’s not thrilled because of the tariffs we’ve put on, mainly because they’re not purchasing as much Russian oil—they’re buying less now, but they have reduced their purchases significantly,” Trump explained.

    Additionally, Trump highlighted that the U.S. has imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, including a 25% tariff on Russian oil imports.

    On Sunday, Trump indicated that the U.S. could escalate tariffs further if India does not comply with American demands to reduce its Russian oil purchases.

    “Modi knew I was upset, and it was important to make me happy,” Trump added.

    In response to a question about India’s Russian oil purchases, Trump stated, “Trade relations matter, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly if needed.”

    Last year, the U.S. doubled import tariffs on Indian exports to 50 as a penalty for India’s significant Russian oil imports. Despite these high tariffs, India’s exports to the U.S. increased notably in November.


  • US-India Leaders Talk as Trade Dispute Continues

    US-India Leaders Talk as Trade Dispute Continues

    On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a meeting with India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, amid efforts from both nations to advance trade discussions and ease tensions related to U.S. tariffs. Although specific details of their conversation remain scarce, this interaction marks the highest-level engagement between the two countries since the U.S. imposed sanctions last week on Russian oil companies — a crucial source of India’s crude oil.

    Jaishankar shared a photo on social media of himself smiling and shaking hands with Rubio, emphasizing that they “discussed our bilateral relationship along with regional and global issues.” The meeting occurred during an ASEAN summit in Malaysia, an event attended by U.S. President Donald Trump in person, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated via video link.

    Tensions between Washington and New Delhi flared in August after Trump raised tariffs to 50%. U.S. officials accused India of contributing to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine by purchasing discounted Russian oil, which India has strongly denied. Trump claimed during a recent phone call with Modi that the Indian leader agreed to reduce Russian oil imports — a statement India has not officially confirmed.

    Trump warned that India would face continued “massive” tariffs if it persisted in its Russian oil purchases. “I spoke with Prime Minister Modi, and he said he won’t be engaging in the Russian oil trade,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. When questioned about India’s assertion that Modi and Trump hadn’t discussed this issue recently, Trump responded, “Then they just have to keep paying heavy tariffs — they prefer that.”

    India has become the leading buyer of Russian seaborne oil at a discount after Western countries imposed sanctions and reduced purchases. While India’s foreign ministry said it was unaware of any recent calls between the leaders, its main priority remains “protecting the interests of Indian consumers.”

  • Trump pledges to maintain ‘massive’ tariffs on New Delhi until Russia oil imports stop

    Trump pledges to maintain ‘massive’ tariffs on New Delhi until Russia oil imports stop

    US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are pictured in a mirror during a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, DC, February 13, 2025. — Reuters
    • PM Modi says he’s “not going to do the Russian oil thing”: Trump.
    • Russian oil remains a key issue in Trump’s trade talks with India.
    • India’s Russian oil imports are expected to increase approximately 20% this month.

    ON AIR FORCE ONE: President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured him India would halt Russian oil purchases, warning that Delhi could face continued “massive” tariffs if they didn’t comply.

    “I spoke with Prime Minister Modi of India, and he said he isn’t going to be doing the Russian oil thing,” Trump told journalists aboard Air Force One.

    When asked about India’s claim of being unaware of any conversation between Modi and Trump, the president responded: “If they want to deny it, then they’ll just keep paying hefty tariffs, which they clearly don’t want to do.”

    Russian oil has been a major sticking point in Trump’s trade negotiations with India — half of his 50% tariffs on Indian goods are retaliatory measures related to those oil imports. The U.S. government states that revenue from petroleum sales is funding Russia’s military activities in Ukraine.

    India has become the largest customer of discounted Russian crude shipped via sea, as Western nations have shunned Russian oil and imposed sanctions following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

    Trump mentioned on Wednesday that Modi had assured him earlier that day India would cease Russian oil imports. India’s foreign ministry stated it wasn’t aware of any such phone call that day, emphasizing that its primary focus remains protecting Indian consumers’ interests.

    A White House spokesperson noted on Thursday that India has cut its Russian oil purchases by half, but sources within India indicate that no such reduction has yet been observed.

    The sources added that Indian refiners already placed orders for November shipment, with some scheduled for December arrival. Therefore, any actual decrease might only show up in December or January’s import data.

    According to data from commodities analysis firm Kpler, India’s Russian oil imports are projected to rise roughly 20% this month, reaching 1.9 million barrels per day, as Russia increases exports following damage to its refineries caused by Ukrainian drones.

  • India Proposed Zero Tariffs on US Goods, Says Trump

    India Proposed Zero Tariffs on US Goods, Says Trump

    • Donald Trump states that the U.S.-India trade arrangement is overly skewed, highlighting that India recently proposed eliminating tariffs on American imports, reducing them to zero. He emphasizes that this action should have occurred years earlier, asserting that “it’s getting late.”

    • The Indian Embassy in Washington has yet to comment on Trump’s remarks, which follow tariffs reaching up to 50% on Indian products, raising concerns about the future of U.S.-India relations.

    • Trump made these comments amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in China, where leaders from over 20 non-Western countries gathered amid a backdrop of increased U.S. trade pressure.

    • During the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping promoted a new global security and economic order that centers the interests of the “Global South,” posing a direct challenge to U.S. dominance.

    • Relations between the U.S. and India have improved in recent years, especially during Trump’s first term, driven by mutual concerns over China’s expanding influence. However, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on India after it chose to continue buying Russian oil, despite U.S. efforts to curb Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

    • In a display of solidarity, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Modi were photographed strolling hand-in-hand with Xi before the summit commenced, smiling and engaging with interpreters amid a show of camaraderie.

    • China has used the summit to repair and strengthen its ties with India. Modi, visiting China for the first time in seven years, and Xi agreed that their nations are development partners rather than rivals, and they discussed strategies to boost trade.

    • The U.S. State Department and White House have not responded to inquiries regarding the meetings held in China.

  • India seeks respectful U.S. relations as arms deals proceed

    India seeks respectful U.S. relations as arms deals proceed

    India expressed optimism that relations with the U.S. will continue to progress based on mutual respect and shared interests, aiming to ease concerns that the relationship is deteriorating following recent tariff hikes by Washington. The Indian foreign ministry stated that, despite tensions, arms procurement from the U.S. remains on track, with a U.S. defense policy team scheduled to visit New Delhi this month for discussions.

    Recent developments have seen a setback after President Donald Trump increased tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 50%, citing retaliation for India’s ongoing imports of Russian oil. India has criticized the U.S. for applying double standards, claiming the tariffs are unfair and unjustified. Nonetheless, New Delhi emphasized that the breadth of the partnership extends beyond trade alone and that ongoing trade negotiations are still expected to yield a favorable outcome.

    An Indian foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, reaffirmed that the partnership has endured various challenges and hopes it will persist with mutual respect and common goals. Although reports last week suggested India temporarily paused its plans to acquire new U.S. weapons and aircraft, the Indian government later clarified that those reports were inaccurate, maintaining that arms purchases are proceeding as planned.

  • Trump announces 25% US tariff on India starting August 1

    Trump announces 25% US tariff on India starting August 1

    During the G20 summit in Buenos Aires on November 30, 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met. Trump criticized India for its “obnoxious” trade barriers that aren’t measured in monetary terms. He also pointed out the close military and energy ties India has with Russia, noting that India buys the majority of its military equipment from Russia and is Russia’s largest energy customer alongside China—all during a time when international pressure is mounting for Russia to cease hostilities in Ukraine. Trump asserted that India’s high tariffs have negatively impacted U.S. businesses for years.

    On Wednesday, Trump announced that starting August 1, the U.S. will impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from India. He also mentioned that India would face an additional, unspecified penalty on the same date, though details about the penalty’s amount or purpose were not provided. In a post on Truth Social, Trump explained that, despite being friends, the U.S. has conducted relatively little trade with India due to its high tariffs—among the highest worldwide—and difficult non-monetary trade restrictions.

    He emphasized concerns about India’s ongoing procurement of military hardware from Russia and its status as a leading Russian energy buyer, which he described as problematic, especially amid global calls to put an end to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. India’s commerce ministry, responsible for trade negotiations with the U.S., had not responded immediately to requests for comments at the time.

    This move by Trump effectively ends hopes for a limited trade agreement, which had been under discussion for months. Negotiators had worked through multiple rounds on issues like market access for American agricultural and dairy exports. Although there was some progress, India resisted opening its market to imports of wheat, corn, rice, and genetically modified soybeans, citing the potential threat to the livelihoods of millions of Indian farmers.

    The new tariffs are forecasted to impact India’s exports worth around $87 billion to the U.S. in 2024, including labor-intensive products such as clothing, pharmaceuticals, jewelry, and petrochemicals. The U.S. and India currently have a trade deficit of approximately $45.7 billion. India becomes part of a growing list of countries facing higher tariffs under Trump’s “Liberation Day” trade policy, which aims to renegotiate trade terms to secure more reciprocity.

    Previously, the White House had raised concerns about India’s high average tariffs—nearly 39% on agricultural products, climbing to 45% on vegetable oils, and around 50% on apples and corn. Despite these tensions, both Modi and Trump had committed to completing the first phase of a trade deal by fall 2025 and boosting bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, up from $191 billion in 2024. Exported U.S. manufacturing goods to India, valued at roughly $42 billion in 2024, along with energy exports such as liquefied natural gas, crude oil, and coal, might also face retaliatory measures if India chooses to respond in kind.

    Indian officials have historically viewed the U.S. as a strategic partner, especially to counterbalance China, but they insist on maintaining policy flexibility on matters related to agriculture, data governance, and subsidies.