US Lawmakers, Indian American Group Discuss Expanding US-India Strategic Ties
Washington — Nine U.S. lawmakers met with representatives of an Indian American advocacy group on Capitol Hill this week for discussions focused on expanding U.S.-India cooperation in trade, defense and Indo-Pacific security.
The United States India Relationship Council, or USIRC, said its delegation met Democratic and Republican members of Congress on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. Talks covered trade, defense, the Quad, supply-chain resilience, maritime security, space cooperation and concerns related to China.
The lawmakers involved were Reps. Jonathan Jackson and Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois; Rich McCormick of Georgia; Young Kim, Derek Tran, Scott Peters, Jimmy Panetta and Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California; and Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia.
USIRC, a registered political action committee that advocates closer U.S.-India relations, said it is focusing its outreach on lawmakers serving, or likely to serve, on congressional committees dealing with foreign affairs.
According to the group, McCormick described the prospect of closer cooperation between the United States and India as having significant economic and strategic potential.
He said the two countries should work toward becoming “not just friends, but allies into the future,” according to USIRC.
The organization said Krishnamoorthi expressed his commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship, while Kim was described as a longtime supporter of closer U.S.-India ties.
Subramanyam, an Indian American lawmaker from Virginia, encouraged greater political participation, telling attendees to “Get involved, Stay involved,” according to the group.
USIRC said Tran expressed support for building the relationship in the years ahead, while Peters backed stronger bilateral cooperation. Panetta discussed opportunities for economic and strategic growth in several areas.
Kamlager-Dove, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee with jurisdiction over South and Central Asia, emphasized the role of the Indian American community in supporting closer ties between the two countries, according to USIRC.
The group said the meetings reflected broad support among participants for greater U.S.-India cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
USIRC also said participants discussed addressing strategic challenges posed by China, while strengthening cooperation in areas including defense, maritime security, resilient supply chains and space.
The organization said differences between Washington and New Delhi should continue to be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy as the two countries expand their strategic partnership. (Source: IANS)
