WASHINGTON, D.C. — Influential U.S. lawmakers have praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a pivotal leader shaping India’s global role, saying Washington increasingly views his leadership as central to the long-term durability of the U.S.–India partnership.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Representative Rich McCormick said Modi’s approach reflects a strong national focus aligned with India’s development goals.
“Prime Minister Modi is extremely nationalistic in a good way,” McCormick said. “He’s looking after his country just like we look after our country. He wants to bring productivity and expansion, and technologies to his country.”
McCormick, who serves as co-chair of the Congressional India Caucus, said U.S. lawmakers understand Modi’s emphasis on building domestic capacity, including in defense and manufacturing.
“He wants the military to be built up inside of his country,” McCormick said, noting that some Indian policies can complicate collaboration but are rooted in national priorities.
At the same time, McCormick acknowledged areas of friction between Washington and New Delhi, including India’s energy purchases. Referring to India’s imports of discounted Russian oil, he said, “We hate that. But he’s doing it for the best interest of his country so he can expand his economy with cheap energy.”
Despite such differences, McCormick said Modi recognizes the importance of alignment with the United States. “In the end, I think he understands how important we are because we are like-minded,” he said.
Representative Ami Bera, the longest-serving Indian American member of Congress, said Modi’s tenure has coincided with India’s rise as a central pillar of U.S. strategy in the region.
“India’s been very key to our whole Indo-Pacific strategy,” Bera said, pointing to continuity in U.S. policy toward India across multiple administrations.
McCormick described Modi as an unusually influential political figure on the global stage. “I think he’s the most popular politician in modern history by far,” he said, adding, “Probably the most popular guy since Gandhi.”
He also recalled Modi’s emphasis on understanding India’s diversity, citing a remark by the prime minister that he does not trust any politician who has not “rode the train from south to north or north to south in coach,” a reference to experiencing the country’s social and cultural breadth firsthand.
Both lawmakers suggested that Modi’s governance style reflects a deep understanding of democratic complexity. “United States and India have to think similar in the way that we approach our population,” McCormick said, pointing to India’s diversity across religion, language, and politics.
Bera said Modi’s leadership has coincided with India’s growing international confidence and economic momentum. “They see how fast the Indian domestic market is growing,” he said, adding that India’s trajectory is reshaping global economic and strategic calculations. (Source: IANS)
