Impact on ties with India likely to be more subtle than disruptive
NEW DELHI: The shift in the US Congressional control is a pivotal moment for Washington, but its impact on the India-US strategic partnership will likely be more subtle than disruptive. With President Trump retaining executive control, though, over US foreign policy, India will need to guard against any further complication of the West Asia conflict. However, despite this core alignment, the strategic partnership also hit its lowest ebb in decades under the second Trump administration over issues like asymmetrical trade demands, India’s reluctance to abandon its energy ties with Russia, US immigration policies and also its Pakistan outreach leading effectively to the re-hyphenation of its approach to the region. To what extent a tighter Congressional scrutiny of Trump’s actions, including on issues related to Iran and Ukraine, can constrain his foreign policy is unclear, as the legislative turnaround is unlikely to dent his broad executive authority over US diplomacy and military even in the face of a domestic pushback. A Democratic majority could also seek to curb the Trump administration’s unilateral tariff actions, ensuring some reprieve for India. It could also offer a check against restrictive immigration legislation, providing relief potentially for high-skilled Indian professionals and H-1B visa holders.