India-US relations: News and Discussions IV

[Amber G.]

Meanwhile hero of many fans here keep talking about :
"7 brand new beautiful" planes were shot down during Pakistan, India conflict says US President Donald Trump;

[saip]

There were NO brand new planes. ALL were a few years old. But Paki planes from China (J10C) were inducted later and so they were newer. May be he is talking about them? Then again he probably does not know what he is talking about.

[chetak]

There were NO brand new planes. ALL were a few years old. But Paki planes from China (J10C) were inducted later and so they were newer. May be he is talking about them? Then again he probably does not know what he is talking about.

Amber ji and saip ji,

"7 brand new beautiful" planes were shot down during Pakistan, India conflict says US President Donald Trump;


trumpwa's game is different

he is repeatedly insinuating and implying to the world at large that the french rafales are useless and India is better off buying amriki aircraft and weapon systems. trumpwa seems to have gotten even the Sindoor neutered pakis singing loudly from the same hymn book regarding, and also stressing the alleged loss of Indian aircraft by backing him on the so called losses on the Indian side.

he is pushing sales for the amriki MIC, agro lobby, dairy industry and amriki crude, among other things

trump doesn't need India, it's the amriki economy and the U$ dollar that desperately needs India.

trumpwa and his MIC/agro/pharma/diary and other associated affiliates are all currently engaged in trying to reshape the geo-economic arena of India and her environs. They have finally started to apply specific anti India and anti Modi ji strategies and that is increasingly becoming obvious, as well as, visible. Going forward, this aspect of their geopolitical tactics will become more and more aggressive

India's push to export weapons and weapon systems, is just one case that is causing increasing alarm in the power ecosystem of the US govt and the deep state. India's self sufficiency in food production is another very sore point

trumpwa is like a small trucker's stop in some hick town on an amriki highway going nowhere

traiff toofan trumpwa has painted a huge target on his own back, and the increasingly frustrated and now unforgiving and growing tribe of trump voters are progressively beginning to draw a bead on that target.

The pushback from India and cheen (and many others) may be beyond all amriki calculations/projections and trumpwa's advisors/backers/puppet masters don't seem to have gamed it well enough before unleashing the global mayhem.

no matter the result, the amrikis have lost their credibility and their geopolitical image has been sullied beyond repair

[Amber G.]

trumpwa's game is different..

Yet there is a huge fan based of that hero.. including many who here who were/are vocal - . Pesh hai : Prez Trump this is from today....

'I am doing a trade deal with India'
'Have great respect & love for PM Modi'
'Have great relationship with PM Modi'
'Field Marshal is a great fighter & great guy'
'7 planes were shot down'
'PM Modi is the nicest looking guy'

[Amber G.]

If other states follow the lead of Florida, it would lead to a major shrinkage (practically an elimination) in academic job prospects for foreign Ph.D.s. In turn that may lead to more Indian Ph.D.s returning to India. We will see:

BREAKING: In a bombshell moment, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ABOLISHES H-1B VISAS from being used at state universities.

We can do it with Florida RESIDENTS or AMERICANS! If we can't? Then man, we need to REALLY look deeply at what's going on with this situation!"

"I am directing today the Florida Board of Governors to PULL THE PLUG on the use of these H-1B visas at our universities."

[Jay]

If other states follow the lead of Florida,

It's only a matter of time. Every R state that goes to the polls from now on will have this on their agenda moving forward and I will not be surprised if this gets on the Republican platform by the 2028 election cycle.

[Tanaji]

Mind you this is just year 1 of the Presidency. If economy goes south, I can see this being extended to green card holders, then citizens who weren’t born here etc.

That’s against the constitution you say? Trump owns the judges right now…

[vera_k]

Meanwhile ToI had this article about slipping academic standards. Definite signs that the constituency for excellence has been shrinking on all sides.

'A' is for average

[Vayutuvan]

Before people start getting apoplexies, they would be better off reading what Gov. DeSantis said.

Florida to stop using H1B visas in universities, DeSantis says
'We know that H1B is not handled in a pristine fashion, even in academia,' UF's president said.
Gray Rohrer USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida 29 Oct 2025

https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/ ... 963659007/

...
DeSantis listed a few examples of those with H1B visas, and suggested Florida schools could have found Americans to do the jobs: public policy professor from China, assistant swim coach from Spain, athletic department graphic designer from Canada.

For most of the examples DeSantis gave, he didn’t name the specific university they worked for, except for a “clinical assistant professor from – supposed – Palestine. Why are they – is that just social justice that they’re doing? And that’s the University of Florida.”
...
“We know that H1B is not handled in a pristine fashion, even in academia, certainly not in business. So we endorse the review of H1B (and) we are conducting our own now,” Landry said.

[Mort Walker]

DeSimpis is doing nothing but posturing. After Trump said he supports a Vance-Rubio ticket when he’s done in 2033.

DeSimpis will U-turn faster than Paki field marshals. All grad programs at UF & FSU will shut down in one semester.

[Amber G.]

Trump says "‘Make Nukes Great Again.". Because what’s world peace without a little radiation nostalgia?”

[A_Gupta]

NYT:

About 400 H-1B visa applications were approved for the state system’s 12 universities this year through June, with the most, 156, at the University of Florida, according to Department of Homeland Security data.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/29/__trashed-2/

“I’m directing today the Florida Board of Governors to pull the plug on the use of these H1-B visas in our universities,” DeSantis said

Dictionary: pull the plug: "prevent something from happening or continuing."

---
Magnitude-wise, 400 less H1-Bs is a drop in the bucket. The impact will be mainly on Florida's universities, not on job-seekers.

[Mort Walker]

Trump says "‘Make Nukes Great Again.". Because what’s world peace without a little radiation nostalgia?”

See, I was right about India testing Tsar Bomba.
"Shitty-Bitty" is out the window.

[chetak]

Diplomatic win: India gets six-month exemption from US sanctions on chabahar port ..


https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bus ... 946643.cms

30, 2025,

The US has granted India a six-month exemption from sanctions on the Chabahar port, a significant diplomatic achievement amidst ongoing trade deal negotiations.

This development allows India to continue its investments and strategic access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

India is also analysing the implications of US sanctions on Russian oil companies, prioritising energy security for its population.

[uddu]

https://x.com/ramprasad_c/status/1983806003046138053
@ramprasad_c
JD Vance is publicly asking Usha to convert means he asked in private and she said no. Such a scum bag!

[williams]

https://x.com/ramprasad_c/status/1983806003046138053
@ramprasad_c
JD Vance is publicly asking Usha to convert means he asked in private and she said no. Such a scum bag!

Why do we give so much bandwidth to Indian origin foreign citizens. None of them are going to make a dent in India's foreign policy objectives. Except for some vague optics, we are better off treating them as foreign citizens and nothing else. The older generation that left India can only understand the old idea of India and the next generation does not have any idea on what India is today. Relying on them or supporting them will not change anything.

[uddu]

https://x.com/ramprasad_c/status/1983806003046138053
@ramprasad_c
JD Vance is publicly asking Usha to convert means he asked in private and she said no. Such a scum bag!

Why do we give so much bandwidth to Indian origin foreign citizens. None of them are going to make a dent in India's foreign policy objectives. Except for some vague optics, we are better off treating them as foreign citizens and nothing else. The older generation that left India can only understand the old idea of India and the next generation does not have any idea on what India is today. Relying on them or supporting them will not change anything.

This shows the lack of India's consciousness that religion can carry. The American pokes their nose into India's religious affairs and funds every crooked organization to do religious conversion within India. These converts are the most rabid Hindu haters within India. The same is with the converts abroad. These people may be citizens of other country. That never means there is no civilizational, cultural, religious links with them. The most vocal among them could have behaved arrogantly towards Indian nation, that never means we have to shed our links completely with those who are of Indian origin. A large number of them are very decent people and love India as much they must love their adopted country. India's civilizational reach and spread in East Asia and other parts was because of such people. The more we ignore, we get Pakistan and Bangladesh.

[Vayutuvan]

Trump says "‘Make Nukes Great Again.". Because what’s world peace without a little radiation nostalgia?”

See, I was right about India testing Tsar Bomba.
"Shitty-Bitty" is out the window.

MaNGA - Yeh dil MaNGa more.

[A_Gupta]

https://x.com/ramprasad_c/status/1983806003046138053
@ramprasad_c
JD Vance is publicly asking Usha to convert means he asked in private and she said no. Such a scum bag!

Reactions:
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/vance-slammed ... 58786.html

[Amber G.]

In the news:

Free for a day. Then came ICE’: Acquitted after 43 years, Indian-origin man faces deportation – to a country he has never known

US changes work-permit rules overnight; students, spouses of H-1B holders to be hit

[Amber G.]

Meanwhile: The Senate just voted 50-46 to strip Donald Trump of his power to impose tariffs.

[drnayar]

Meanwhile: The Senate just voted 50-46 to strip Donald Trump of his power to impose tariffs.

Interesting! .. would it work retroactively

[A_Gupta]

Any support for this Senate action in the House?

[skumar]

Meanwhile: The Senate just voted 50-46 to strip Donald Trump of his power to impose tariffs.

Not actually correct. Grok says
"No, the Senate Did Not Strip Trump of His Tariff Powers. The claim circulating on social media—that the Senate just voted 50-46 to broadly "strip Donald Trump of his power to impose tariffs"—is misleading and overstated. While a 50-46 vote did occur on October 29, 2025, it was narrowly targeted at terminating the national emergency declaration Trump used to justify 35% tariffs specifically on Canadian imports. This is part of a series of symbolic rebukes this week, not a wholesale revocation of presidential tariff authority."

Also corroborated by other agencies. I guess it is up to the SC.

[Amber G.]

^^^The vote is not a termination of the tariffs today, but it is a loud, formal, and persistent warning shot fired by a bipartisan Senate coalition that signals deep disapproval of the President's trade strategy and the executive power he is claiming.
Senate vote is significant, but its significance is political.. rather than immediately changing the economic reality..The fact that four Republicans (Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski) voted with all Democrats is a powerful political statement....

[Amber G.]

Trump says restart nuke tests; Nevada says no way
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Nevada officials on Thursday vowed to oppose any efforts to restart nuclear testing in the state, saying it's unnecessary and could start another arms race.

The comments came in response to President Donald Trump, who said just before a meeting with President Xi Jinping of China on Wednesday that he wants an immediate resumption of testing.

[A_Gupta]

From the Congressional Record:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-con ... on/37/text
S.J. Res 37 passed the Senate on April 2, 2025, 51-48.

Terminating the national emergency declared to impose duties on articles imported from Canada.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, pursuant to section 202 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622), the national emergency declared on February 1, 2025, by the President in Executive Order 14193 (90 Fed. Reg. 9113) is terminated.

Passed the Senate April 2, 2025.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-con ... on/77/text
S.J. Res 77 passed the Senate on October 29, 2025, 50-46.

Terminating the national emergency declared to impose duties on articles imported from Canada.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, pursuant to section 202 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622), the national emergency declared on February 1, 2025, by the President in Executive Order 14193 (90 Fed. Reg. 9113) is terminated.

Passed the Senate October 29, 2025.

So:

1. Such a resolution has passed the Senate twice in seven months. Dunno why the first time round it did not make the news.

2. Both instances were restricted to the emergency declared with respect to Canada.

3. It is toothless - it will go nowhere in the House of Representatives; and even if it passes both chambers, it will not be with a veto-proof majority.

4. Trump's April "reciprocal tariffs" are based on a similar declaration of emergency. There are bills introduced in the Senate and House to address these and all such "emergencies", which are languishing in their respective chambers without any action after introduction.

For instance
S.151, https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-con ... l/151/text
HR.407, https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-con ... l/407/text

[Amber G.]

See, I was right about India testing Tsar Bomba.

Today in 1961, Tsar Bomba, the single most physically powerful device ever deployed on Earth, was detonated.

It produced the largest human-made explosion in history, with a mushroom reaching 60 Km of altitude ,, Over 50 megatons.

[skumar]

^^^The vote is not a termination of the tariffs today, but it is a loud, formal, and persistent warning shot fired by a bipartisan Senate coalition that signals deep disapproval of the President's trade strategy and the executive power he is claiming.
Senate vote is significant, but its significance is political.. rather than immediately changing the economic reality..The fact that four Republicans (Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski) voted with all Democrats is a powerful political statement....

Trump is the alpha male in the GOP. He has broad support across the GOP on tariffs because it was one of the key planks during his election campaign which got him to office. Tariffs -> Pressure on companies to manufacture in US -> Bring jobs backs.

Please note that none of the GOP senators who voted against their party are opposed to tariffs.

They are positioning themselves against the declaration of a national emergency which was a joke anyway. It is like declaring DEFCON 1 (US terminology made famous in the movies) today from a national security point of view.

[A_Gupta]

^^^ and the House already voted to express its approval of Trump’s tariffs.

[A_Gupta]

US signs 10-year defence pact with India, Hegseth says
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us- ... 025-10-31/

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The United States has signed a 10-year defence framework agreement with India, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday.
The framework is considered a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence, enhancing coordination, information sharing and technological cooperation between the two nations, Hegseth posted on X after a meeting with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh.

[sanjaykumar]

Whoa. Hard to keep track of this love hate relationship

[uddu]

US signs 10-year defence pact with India, Hegseth says
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us- ... 025-10-31/

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The United States has signed a 10-year defence framework agreement with India, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday.
The framework is considered a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence, enhancing coordination, information sharing and technological cooperation between the two nations, Hegseth posted on X after a meeting with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh.

Nothing new here. Said to be the renewal of the 10 year pact that was signed in 2005 or so. Every 10 years its getting renewed.
One more thing is the Chahbahar port sanction waiver extension came just before this. May be we bargained for it for renewal without delay.

[A_Gupta]

Well, it is a sign that relations with the US are not completely ruined.

[uddu]

Well, it is a sign that relations with the US are not completely ruined.

These are all U.S doing. We have nothing to do with the Tariff wars and Trump and his minions behavior and abuses. The special privilege's enjoyed by US is gone. They will now be treated as any other country.

[chetak]

Well, it is a sign that relations with the US are not completely ruined.

A_Gupta ji,

There is nothing tangible in the agreement.

It's nothing more than some fleeting and meaningless face saving PR exercise concerning a situation that is way beyond repair or redressal.

The amrikis are well aware that they have messed up big time.

The reaction of the Indian public cannot be simply brushed under the carpet of political expediency and papered over

The biggest problem when dealing with an entity like Modi ji's India is that you have to factor in public opinion, unlike when dealing with cheen or pak.

Even the pakis and the beedis, among many others have simply failed to understand this facet of the current govt, (whose ability, BTW, to mold public opinion is unparalleled in the history of India since we got our independence... )

That is why the amrikis prefer to deal with dictators, desert princes, self coronated african "kings", despots and scum like raincoat and his mafioso backers.

These tin pot potentates always come with a price tag that can be read clearly and easily, not to mention those gaudily plumed african and paki jernails who routinely include genocide in their resumes

the amrikis have very foolishly followed a scorched earth strategy and literally burned bridges, hoping to browbeat India into submission by selectively constricting their so called patronage, while thinking that India will fall in line, they have tried everything, including various versions of regime change experiments dug out from their tattered playbook and repurposed. Such attempts seem to have fallen flat in India (starting from the "farmer's protests to the shaheen bagh riots, to the 2024 attempt to sabotage the elections and the efforts via the caste census, election chori, EVM fraud narratives)

They have been reduced to the equivalent of applying lipstick on a pig (try and co opt via the renewal of the US signs 10-year defence pact with India), which is their time tested approach (Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA), israel as a major strategic partner, India as a major defense partner, paki is an, on again, off again, some time chaddi dost and what have you) when faced with determined opposition that has not succumbed to a potpourri of geopolitical coercion.

Sadly, we're hardwired to respond to emotion, not reason.

The real question is why now, especially now, when everyone knows that the mutual trust has all but evaporated, and is unlikely to return to status quo ante any time soon................

[skumar]

...
Also corroborated by other agencies. I guess it is up to the SC.

Trump plans to attend the hearings in the SC that will decide on his tariff policy.

Like many things Trumpian, this is unprecedented in the history of the US.

[A_Gupta]

Lt. General PR Shankar explains the significance of the decade-long renewal of the India-US Defence Framework.
https://www.youtube.com/live/ygkj0YaMR4 ... n3qV5WZ37G

In particular, India needs the US for the maintenance of $20 billion of arms that India has purchased. General Shankar says that India could not have met China in Ladakh recently on an equal footing without American equipment. And so on. Listen to the whole thing; I won't respond to any comments here, the Good General has spelled it all out quite realistically.

[drnayar]

US signs 10-year defence pact with India, Hegseth says
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us- ... 025-10-31/

Nothing new here. Said to be the renewal of the 10 year pact that was signed in 2005 or so. Every 10 years its getting renewed.
One more thing is the Chahbahar port sanction waiver extension came just before this. May be we bargained for it for renewal without delay.

Chahbahar port sanction waiver extension = 1 year
defence-pact renewal = 10 years

[drnayar]

Whoa. Hard to keep track of this love hate relationship

easy., a marriage of convenience , each when it suits the purpose. no love here