Trump’s India Strategy Is All Over The Place: Bera Criticizes Shifting Policy

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Ami Bera, (D-CA) has called on Congress to “stand together” in defending the “hugely important” relationship between India and the United States.

Bera, who serves as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, discussed his recent congressional visit to India, challenges in the current administration’s approach toward New Delhi, and his plans to build bipartisan consensus on the partnership.

Speaking about his delegation’s meetings with Indian officials and industry leaders, Bera said there were clear concerns in India over recent US actions. “Certainly, inviting the Pakistani General to the Oval Office created some concerns,” he noted, adding that the Trump administration has taken inconsistent positions on India. He criticized the $100,000 H-1B visa fee, stressing that the program benefits both Indian professionals and US industries. “India uses about 70 per cent of the H-1Bs, which benefits US companies, tech workers, and doctors we need here in the United States,” he said.

Bera emphasized that Congress continues to view India as a key strategic partner. “We see it as a pillar of not just the Indo-Pacific strategy but also of global economics. India is the fastest-growing economy in the world,” he said, adding that he hopes for “zero tariffs” and a comprehensive trade deal between the two nations.

On the Trump administration’s India strategy, Bera remarked that “there doesn’t seem to be a coherent approach.” He pointed out the administration’s shifting stance—from early warmth between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump to more recent outreach to Pakistan. “That gave some pause to the Indian government,” Bera said, noting that despite tensions, defense cooperation between the two countries remains strong.

Bera confirmed plans to introduce legislation expressing Congress’s unified support for India. “This is a time for Congress, Democrats and Republicans, to stand together and say—here’s how we view the India-US relationship,” he stated. “It’s not a Democratic thing or a Republican thing. It should be an American thing.”

Addressing the administration’s H-1B policy, Bera said it appeared poorly planned and damaging to US industries. “If you were thinking it through, you would consult Congress, talk to industry, and get a sense of the impact,” he said. “This was a handful of people inside the White House making a decision, and the President made the wrong decision.”

He warned that steep visa costs could drive US businesses to move operations abroad. “If I’m a small start-up in the United States, I can’t pay $100,000 for H-1Bs. I’ll just move my work to India,” he said.

On Sergio Gor, the newly confirmed US Ambassador to India, Bera expressed cautious optimism. “He said all the right things at his confirmation hearings. Hopefully, his proximity to President Trump will help him convey the vibrancy of India’s economy and democracy to the President,” he noted.

Discussing broader regional policy, Bera said India remains central to the US Indo-Pacific strategy. “Going all the way back to President Clinton through Biden, India has been a centerpiece—not just as a counterweight to China, but as an anchor of peace, stability, democracy, and maritime security,” he said.

Praising India’s response to recent tensions, Bera added, “Prime Minister Modi and [External Affairs Minister] Jaishankar have handled themselves well. India has recognized the longer-term importance of a positive US-India relationship.”

Looking ahead, Bera urged both countries to focus on continuity. “We shouldn’t toss out what we’ve built over three decades because of a few missteps,” he said. “This is a time for Congress to reaffirm—loudly and clearly—that the US-India partnership remains one of the most important relationships of the 21st century.” (IANS)