ANI
Washington, Updated At : 10:54 AM Dec 11, 2025 IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin after receiving him, on their way to the Prime Minister’s residence, in New Delhi. (@narendramodi X/ANI Photo)
US Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove said the now-famous car selfie of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin “speaks a thousand words,” using the image to criticise US President Donald Trump’s approach to India.
Dove argued that Trump’s coercive tactics carry significant costs. “Trump’s policies towards India can only be described as cutting our nose to spite our face… Being a coercive partner has a cost. And this poster is worth a thousand words. You do not get a Nobel Peace Prize by driving US strategic partners into the arms of our adversaries. We must move with incredible urgency to mitigate the damage that this administration has done to the US-India partnership and return to the cooperation that is essential to US prosperity, security, and global leadership,” she said.
Her remarks were made during the House Foreign Affairs South and Central Asia Subcommittee hearing titled, “The US-India Strategic Partnership: Securing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
On the same panel, Representative Pramila Jayapal raised worries about trade barriers and immigration measures undermining economic ties and people-to-people links between the US and India. She highlighted ongoing tariff disputes affecting businesses and consumers on both sides. “We also are facing challenges around tariffs, both here in the United States and in India. These tariffs are damaging India’s economy and also hurting American businesses and consumers,” Jayapal said.
Jayapal’s comments came amid escalating trade friction after President Trump warned of possible new tariffs on India’s rice exports, accusing New Delhi of “dumping” cheap rice into the US market and harming American farmers. Trump made the remarks during a White House meeting where he announced a USD 12 billion aid package for US agricultural producers.
At that meeting, several farmers complained that low-cost imports from India, Vietnam and Thailand were depressing domestic prices. In response, Trump questioned why additional duties had not been imposed on India and said he would “take care” of the alleged dumping, signalling that new tariffs could be considered.
These tensions unfolded while a US trade delegation was in India on December 10-11 for negotiations that have made limited progress, hampered by disagreements over market access and tariff issues. The talks face added strain from earlier US actions: in August 2025 the United States imposed 50 percent tariffs on most Indian goods amid wider trade disputes and concerns about India’s purchases of Russian oil. Trump’s recent comments have injected further uncertainty into already difficult negotiations and raised the prospect of more trade friction between the two countries.
