Ami Bera calls India 'fastest-growing economy', backs US-India strategic ties
Synopsis
At the Capitol Hill Summit 2026, Indian American Congressman Ami Bera called India the world’s fastest-growing economy and argued the US-India strategic partnership is built on three decades of bipartisan consensus — resilient enough to survive Trump-era trade friction. His pointed criticism of Peter Navarro as ‘anti-Indian’ signals rare public pushback from within Congress against the administration’s economic nationalism.
Key Takeaways
Congressman Ami Bera reaffirmed the US-India strategic partnership at the Capitol Hill Summit 2026 on 19 May 2026 in Washington.
Bera called India the ‘fastest growing economy in the world’ and said it must define its role as a global leader.
He argued the bilateral relationship has remained consistent across six successive US administrations spanning three decades.
Bera criticised trade adviser Peter Navarro and others in the Trump administration for taking an ‘anti-Indian’ stance on trade and immigration.
He highlighted AI , critical minerals , and semiconductor supply chains as key emerging areas of US-India cooperation.
Bera has represented California in the US House since 2013 and sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence .
Indian American Congressman Ami Bera on 19 May 2026 reaffirmed the durability of the US-India strategic partnership, saying the long-term foundations of the bilateral relationship remained intact despite friction over trade, tariffs, and immigration under President Donald Trump's administration. Bera made the remarks at the Capitol Hill Summit 2026, organised by the US-India Friendship Council in Washington.
Strategic Foundations Remain Solid
Speaking during a panel discussion on defence, technology, and energy cooperation, Bera described India as a critical geopolitical and economic partner for the United States in the 21st century. “Nothing fundamentally has changed about our long-term strategic interest,” he said, adding that from a congressional standpoint, the relationship had remained consistent “going back three decades.”
Bera noted that US-India ties had expanded steadily across successive administrations — from President Bill Clinton through George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Trump’s first term, and Joe Biden — particularly in defence and strategic cooperation. “The defence-to-defence base is strong and tight,” he said.
India’s Rising Global Responsibilities
Bera argued that as India emerged as a major world power, it would increasingly have to shoulder greater global responsibilities. “India has its own aspirations,” he said. “Fastest growing economy in the world. It has to decide who it wants to be as it enters this place of world leadership.”
He also pointed to India’s potential diplomatic role in resolving the war in Ukraine, citing New Delhi’s longstanding ties with Moscow. “India can play a very constructive role in helping bring the war in Ukraine to an end,” Bera said. “It has lines of communications with Russia.” India’s position in the Indian Ocean region and broader Indo-Pacific security architecture, he added, would only grow in strategic importance.
Anti-India Voices in the Trump Administration
Bera did not shy away from criticising elements within the current US administration, singling out trade adviser Peter Navarro and others he described as taking an “anti-Indian” approach on trade and immigration. The California Democrat acknowledged that tariff disagreements had created friction between Washington and New Delhi, but stressed that Congress as a whole continued to strongly support deeper engagement with India.
Indian Americans and the Immigration Debate
On immigration, Bera mounted a strong defence of Indian students and professionals in the United States, calling Indian Americans “the most educated demographic in the United States.” He referenced proposed legislation aimed at protecting documented dreamers and visa holders, and urged Indian Americans to build closer ties with their elected representatives. “Get to know your member of Congress,” he said. “We’re the ones that write the bills, we’re the ones that write the legislation.”
Tech, AI, and Critical Minerals as New Frontiers
Bera highlighted emerging areas of bilateral cooperation including artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and semiconductor supply chains. “The leading tech CEOs in the United States are Indian Americans,” he said. “We should be jointly developing these solutions together.”
Bera, a physician by training, has represented California in the US House of Representatives since 2013 and currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. His remarks at the summit signal that bipartisan congressional support for the US-India relationship is likely to outlast the current trade turbulence — though the pressure on New Delhi to define its global posture more sharply is only intensifying.
Point of View
Not just reassure. The more consequential question Bera raises, however, is the one directed at New Delhi: as India grows into a top-tier power, the United States will expect it to take clearer positions on Ukraine, Indo-Pacific security, and supply-chain alignment. India’s tradition of strategic autonomy may face its most direct test yet from its closest partner.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Congressman Ami Bera say about the US-India relationship at the Capitol Hill Summit 2026?
Bera said the long-term strategic foundations of the US-India partnership remained intact despite current trade and immigration tensions. He described India as a critical geopolitical and economic partner and noted that congressional support for the relationship had been consistent across three decades and six administrations.
Why did Ami Bera criticise Peter Navarro?
Bera described Navarro and certain other figures within the Trump administration as ‘very anti-Indian’ on trade and immigration issues. He drew a distinction between those voices and the broader congressional consensus, which he said continued to strongly favour closer US-India engagement.
What role does Bera say India can play in the Ukraine conflict?
Bera argued that India’s longstanding ties with Russia give it unique diplomatic leverage. He said India ‘can play a very constructive role in helping bring the war in Ukraine to an end’ because it maintains open lines of communication with Moscow.
What new areas of US-India cooperation did Bera highlight?
Bera pointed to artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and semiconductor supply chains as emerging frontiers for bilateral cooperation. He noted that many leading US technology CEOs are Indian Americans and called for joint development of solutions in these sectors.
