Washington, June 19: During his recent visit to France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President Donald Trump discussed various issues. Following this meeting, a prominent U.S. senator emphasized the need to strengthen, not weaken, the partnership with India. He noted that imposing punitive tariffs sends the wrong message to a key strategic ally.
In response to a question about the Modi-Trump meeting, Senator Mark Warner told a news agency, “I have not received detailed information about the meeting. I hope it will improve relations.”
The Democratic senator from Virginia stated that the India-U.S. relationship is crucial. He stressed that Washington should continue to invest in this partnership. “I take pride in being the co-chair of the India Caucus in the Senate. I believe that the relationship between India and the U.S. is vital,” Warner said. He pointed out that successive U.S. administrations have promoted India’s collaboration with Washington while reducing its dependence on Russia for many years.
“For the past 25 years, we have been trying to move India away from reliance on Russia and towards a partnership as a democratic ally,” he added.
Senator Warner referenced initiatives like the Quad, which brings together India, the U.S., Japan, and Australia to strengthen cooperation among major democratic nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
He expressed surprise at Trump’s decision to rapidly increase tariffs on Indian goods last year. Warner remarked, “It was quite shocking to me that for a time, President Trump unilaterally raised tariffs on India to the highest in the world.”
Pointing to recent decisions and comments from the Trump administration, the Democratic senator believes that the current situation, where Washington is trying to counter China’s growing influence and reduce India’s historical dependence on Russia, could undermine America’s larger strategic goals in Asia.
“We are now trying to pull India away from China and Russia, and this has forced India to reconsider whether partnering with the U.S. is the best bet for them,” he stated.
Warner expressed his intention to gather detailed information about the discussions between Prime Minister Modi and Trump, while emphasizing that strengthening bilateral relations should remain a priority for both governments.
“I believe this is one of the top two or three geopolitical relationships of the 21st century, and we need to strengthen it, not weaken it,” he asserted.
During international meetings in France, PM Modi and Trump discussed trade, defense cooperation, and major strategic issues. India and the U.S. have consistently enhanced their engagement across various sectors, including defense, essential technologies, energy, education, and supply chain resilience.
Over the past two decades, the India-U.S. relationship has become one of Washington’s most significant partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. Both countries have signed major defense agreements, increased military exercises, and expanded cooperation in new technologies, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals.
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