India-US Relationship at Lowest Point in 30 Years, Says Ro Khanna

Indian-American Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna has said that the relationship between India and the United States is at its lowest point in nearly three decades, calling for renewed efforts to restore momentum to one of the world’s most significant strategic partnerships.

Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit in Washington, Khanna said the bilateral relationship, which had steadily expanded over the past 30 years across defence, trade, technology and people-to-people ties, is now facing one of its most challenging phases. He said there was an urgent need for sustained diplomatic engagement to rebuild confidence and strengthen cooperation.

Khanna observed that differences over foreign policy priorities, democratic values and global strategic issues have contributed to the current state of relations. He said that although India and the United States continue to work together in areas such as defence, critical technologies and economic cooperation, the level of political trust and engagement has weakened compared with previous years.

Referring to the importance of the partnership, Khanna described India and the United States as natural strategic partners with shared interests in promoting stability, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. He said both countries should focus on expanding collaboration while constructively addressing areas of disagreement through dialogue.

The Democratic lawmaker also underlined the strong bipartisan support that India-US ties have traditionally enjoyed in Washington. He expressed confidence that the relationship would regain its earlier momentum irrespective of political changes in either country, noting that cooperation between the two democracies remains vital in addressing global and regional challenges.