Lagatar24 Desk
Washington, D.C.: A carpool photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin surfaced unexpectedly in the US Congress, where Democratic Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove used it to highlight concerns about the direction of India–US relations under Donald Trump’s leadership.
Modi–Putin Image Sparks Sharp Critique in Congressional Hearing
Pointing to the image during a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on The US-India Strategic Partnership: Securing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, Kamlager-Dove said, “This poster is worth a thousand words,” arguing that Trump’s coercive foreign policy had damaged trust with India. She criticized the former president’s repeated claims that he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for “stopping eight wars,” including tensions between India and Pakistan. The lawmaker said strategic partners do not respond well to pressure and warned that alienating India only pushes it closer to US adversaries.
Trade Tensions and Strategic Concerns Deepen
Kamlager-Dove urged swift action to repair what she described as significant harm to the bilateral partnership. Her remarks come amid escalating trade tensions: in August 2025, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on most Indian exports. Meanwhile, India’s continued purchase of Russian oil has complicated the diplomatic landscape. A US trade delegation visited New Delhi on December 10–11, but talks made minimal progress due to disagreements over tariff structures and market access.
