Look Beyond White House To Boost India-US Ties

History, however, is testimony to the fact that the US Congress and Senate have played a critical role in transforming the India-US partnership.

Understanding the US Congress and cultivating its members is the recipe for success. Unlike the legislative branches of various countries – be it a parliamentary or a presidential system, the US Congress and Senate play a decisive role in the conduct of the American foreign policy.    

For over two decades, the US Congress has maintained a broadly positive and bipartisan stance supporting strategic, commercial, and defence ties between New Delhi and Washington, supported by legislative measures like the 2008 civil nuclear agreement and ongoing resolutions recognising India's regional role.

The Caucuses Driving Initiatives

The Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans (often called the House India Caucus) and the US Senate India Caucus were formed in the American Congress that promote stronger diplomatic, economic, and strategic ties between New Delhi and Washington. In fact, the India Caucus is the largest single-country cohort in the US House of Representatives and plays a foundational, bipartisan role in strengthening and stabilising relations between the two countries.

Caucus leadership frequently drives major initiatives at Capitol Hill. For example, co-chairs have historically championed landmark moments like inviting Indian Prime Ministers for joint addresses to the US Congress while introducing bipartisan resolutions to reaffirm the strategic value of the alliance.  

It facilitates direct dialogue between visiting Indian parliamentary delegations (such as multi-party groups addressing regional security and counter-terrorism) and US lawmakers, think tanks, and administration officials.

The Caucus also helps in drawing attention - Congressional as well as public - to key areas of mutual interest, including defence integration (such as the Major Defence Partnership), critical and emerging technologies (iCET), clean energy, and counter-terrorism frameworks.

A 2019 paper by leading Indian think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF) noted the significance of the role of the Caucus to counter-balance the Presidency. It was Trump Presidency 1.0

“After (President Donald) Trump remarked that (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi had requested him to mediate on Kashmir during a press interaction alongside Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, the House India Caucus sprang to India’s defence. In a joint statement, Congressman George Holding and Congressman Brad Sherman who Co-Chairs the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, asserted that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and went on to add that the need for the hour was to combat terrorism and extremism throughout South Asia (obviously in reference to Pakistan). The fact that the Congressional Caucus clarified its stand speaks of their role as an enduring partner that India can expect in times of executive uncertainty,” read the ORF paper titled “India’s Cheerleaders in the US Congress – A Preview”.

This year a bipartisan US Congressional delegation led by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Michael Rogers and Ranking Member Adam Smith visited New Delhi to meet with Indian officials, including Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, focusing on defence modernisation and co-production. Such Congressional visits were earlier regular but have dwindled over the years.

Increased Legislative Oversight?

Following recent US midterms where Democrats took control of Congress, analysts anticipate increased legislative oversight on trade and immigration policies (such as potential green card cap reforms), while core bipartisan backing for India's strategic partnership and Indo-Pacific cooperation is expected to endure.

The Samosa Caucus is set to regain its heft on Capitol Hill with Democrats wresting control of the US House of Representatives, and newcomers Pia Dandiya and Amish Shah set to join four Indian American lawmakers.

The ‘samosa caucus’, the informal group of Indian American lawmakers, was set to shrink to four with Congressman Shri Thanedar losing the Democratic primary from Michigan and Raja Krishnamoorthi making an unsuccessful bid to contest the Senate poll from Illinois.

Indian American Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Suhas Subramanyam, and Pramila Jayapal have been re-elected to the US House of Representatives, while Dandiya made a strong debut by winning the newly carved out 22nd Congressional district in Florida, a Republican stronghold.

It is imperative for the Indian Embassy in Washington to now focus beyond the White House and Presidency and widen ties with the US Congress and this may in fact enable counter-balancing an unpredictable President.