India-US relations: News and Discussions IV

[g.sarkar]

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was the first to call Mahatma Gandhi the "Father of the Nation" during a radio broadcast from Singapore (Azad Hind Radio) on July 6, 1944, asking for his blessings in India's freedom struggle.
Gautam

That's Netaji's choice right. People can have any choice. From Netaji himself to Chatrapaji Shivaji Maharaj to going back millennia to Chandragupta Maurya or even Gautama Buddha.

I thought you questioned how the title was given. Netaji gave it and he was not a part of INC by that time. And the other title, Mahatma was given by Tagore.
Gautam

[Amber G.]

Credentials presented.Trust and confidence conveyed - talking points delivered, boilerplate intact.

Today, I presented my credentials as U.S. Ambassador to India to President Droupadi Murmu
@RashtrapatiBhvn . I am grateful to President Trump for his trust and confidence, and proud to carry forward his Administration’s priorities. Together, we will strengthen our partnership in security, trade, energy, and technology, building the U.S.-India partnership that will define the 21st century.

[Amber G.]

US State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan on the list

[Amber G.]

Some breaking news:

Trump:

Anything Less Than US Control Of Greenland Is Unacceptable':

--

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen:

We met with JD Vance and Rubio today, we came here following a number of remarkable public comments on Greenland and Arctic security.
The Kingdom of Denmark has already stepped up our own contribution by committing additional funds for military capabilities.
Not dog sleds, but ships, drones, fighter jets, etc. And we are definitely ready to do more.
Greenland has been a member of NATO since 1949, and it is covered by Article five.
We still have a fundamental disagreement, but we also agree to disagree.
We will continue to talk, we have decided to form a high-level working group to explore if we can find a common way forward.
The president has made his view clear…For us, ideas that would not respect the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of self-determination of the Greenlandic people are…totally unacceptable. #Greenland

---

Germany plans to deploy its first soldiers to Greenland as early as this week.
An advance team of a few Bundeswehr personnel is expected to go first.
German Media: BILD

Swedish PM says, “Several officers from the Swedish Armed Forces are arriving in Greenland today.”

[vera_k]

One can ask ChatGPT to respond with Trumpian (ChatGPT's label) lines. Good enough given late night comedy has dried up.

Greenland’s defence used to be two dog sleds. Now Germany’s deployed — so it’s two dog sleds and a lot of German Shepherds.

I said Greenland had two dog sleds defending it. Turns out the Germans are there now, so the dogs are bigger, better trained, and probably have papers.

Greenland went from two dog sleds to German troops. Same dogs, but now they’re German Shepherds.

When I first looked at Greenland, it had two dog sleds. Now Germany’s involved — the dogs are German Shepherds and they’re very disciplined.

They told me Greenland’s defence was two dog sleds. Now the Germans have arrived, which means German Shepherds, schedules, and no late sleds.

[Amber G.]

^^^^

[g.sarkar]

https://www.rediff.com/news/column/why- ... 260114.htm
Why India-US Trade Deal Is Delayed
Ajay Srivastava, January 14, 2026
Why has India not yet concluded a bilateral trade deal with the United States even as the two countries have quickly signed agreements with other partners?
In just the last four years, India has concluded eight trade agreements -- with Mauritius, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Oman, the European Free Trade Association bloc, the United Kingdom and members of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), which also includes the US.
Washington has also signed quick trade deals with Japan, the European Union, the UK, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia in the past six months. So why is an India-US deal taking longer?
Two main reasons: One, most countries that have concluded rapid trade deals with the US depend heavily on Washington for their security. India does not.
Two, the US-India trade talks go far beyond trade and extend into strategic and policy areas of interest to Washington.
These two factors make the negotiations complex and explain why a deal is taking longer than many expect.
India-US Trade Talks: More Than Trade
The US as a security provider: Most countries that have quickly concluded trade deals with Washington share one key trait: They depend on the US for their security.
Japan and South Korea, for example, are formal US treaty allies hosting large numbers of American troops. Their trade ties with Washington are closely linked to security dependence, especially given threats from North Korea and China.
The same pattern exists in Europe. The UK remains one of America's closest strategic partners through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Much of the EU -- particularly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine -- relies heavily on US military power for deterrence. In such cases, trade negotiations are shaped by strategic alignment, and resistance to US demands tends to be limited.
A similar dynamic operates in Southeast Asia. The Philippines, bound by a Mutual Defence Treaty, has expanded US military access in recent years. Thailand, another treaty ally, also remains embedded in the US security framework. For these countries, trade deals are part of a broader geopolitical bargain rooted in security dependence.
India stands apart. It does not rely on the US for its security and cannot be pressured through military leverage. That strategic autonomy fundamentally changes the nature of trade negotiations.
China also does not depend on US security and holds strategic leverage, particularly in critical minerals such as rare earths, which are vital to US defence and high-technology industries. As a result, US-China trade deals, however tense, are never one-sided. Power balance forces negotiation, not compliance.
India-US trade talks: More than trade: Negotiations for a US-India trade deal began in February 2025, but they remain stuck because the talks go far beyond trade. Washington is pushing India to reshape key domestic policies to suit US interests -- ranging from regulation and technology to energy and geopolitics.
The US wants India to buy more American oil and defence equipment, relax data and digital rules, and distance itself from Brics partners -- especially Russia and China, which Washington sees as challenging the dominance of the US dollar.
The US is also pressing for unrestricted cross-border data flows, an end to taxes on digital services, and permission for American e-commerce firms to run inventory-based models instead of limited marketplaces.
......
Gautam

[Tanaji]

The above article ignores the elephant in the room which is agriculture and GM products. No party in the centre can afford to appear to let down the interests of Indian farmers (though BJP excels at self goals…).

[saip]

US State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan on the list

According to a US official, the countries impacted by the suspension in immigrant visa processing are Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

[drnayar]

Some breaking news:

Trump:

Anything Less Than US Control Of Greenland Is Unacceptable':

--

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen:

We met with JD Vance and Rubio today, we came here following a number of remarkable public comments on Greenland and Arctic security.
The Kingdom of Denmark has already stepped up our own contribution by committing additional funds for military capabilities.
Not dog sleds, but ships, drones, fighter jets, etc. And we are definitely ready to do more.
Greenland has been a member of NATO since 1949, and it is covered by Article five.
We still have a fundamental disagreement, but we also agree to disagree.
We will continue to talk, we have decided to form a high-level working group to explore if we can find a common way forward.
The president has made his view clear…For us, ideas that would not respect the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of self-determination of the Greenlandic people are…totally unacceptable. #Greenland

---

Germany plans to deploy its first soldiers to Greenland as early as this week.
An advance team of a few Bundeswehr personnel is expected to go first.
German Media: BILD

Swedish PM says, “Several officers from the Swedish Armed Forces are arriving in Greenland today.”

Amberji., Trump has dug himself into the greenland hole. He cant and wont get out. Denmark will be forced into a compromise, something that looks like it did not "lose" greenland. NATO for all purposes is dead ., it just exists to serve American interests

[saip]

Today India U19 played USA U19 in Bulawayo (India won). But I do not see any players of Pakistani origin and all appear to be of Indian Origin. In future Paki origin players may not make it to the USA team.

[chetak]

they still think that we are pagans who can be bamboozled by a few shiny beads...........

[Amber G.]

Today India U19 played USA U19 in Bulawayo (India won). But I do not see any players of Pakistani origin and all appear to be of Indian Origin. In future Paki origin players may not make it to the USA team.

That may be because of a report of several U.S. national team players — notably Ali Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Ehsan Adil were denied Visa to India .. (Just because of their Pakistani origin )

(To be clear Ali Khan publicly shared that his visa application was denied, sparking media reports..but per India it suggests the applications are still in process and not formally rejected — they’re under administrative review. )

[saip]

Years ago when my company wanted to send me to Pakistan to train some people, I had difficulty in obtaining a visa, even though I had a US passport. They wanted lots of details and my old Indian passports etc. Finally my company decided it was not worth the hassle and told the Paki company to send their employees to the US at their expense.

[ricky_v]

not really relevant to the topic of the thread, Amber G, but the U19 cricket world cup is being held in zimbabwe and namibia; nobody has any issues gaining admittance in those countries, i dont think, pakistani origin cricketers in the senior US team have their visa on hold for participating in the t20 world cup later in india this year

re: the observation by saip, it really felt like a match between india a and india b, if in the future an american (indian) team defeats an indian (indian) team in a test series, will that give rise to an indian ashes? that is surely how the brits must have felt against the aussies in the late 1800s

[Amber G.]

Just to be clear .Zimbabwe and Namibia have fairly straightforward entry regimes, whereas India applies additional security vetting for Pakistan-born applicants regardless of current nationality—hence the senior USA players’ visas being “under process,” not the U19s.

As for the India-A vs India-B feel, that’s just a reflection of diaspora cricket maturity. If a US (largely Indian-origin) team ever beats India in a Test series, it won’t be an “Indian Ashes” so much as a sign that cricket diffuses globally. The Brits in the 1890s weren’t losing to Australians pretending to be English—they were losing to a colony that had learned the game very well...

Meanwhile a day after the US announced suspension of visa services in Pakistan (among other countries) from the 21st January, Pakistan Interior Minister..

We see:

[Amber G.]

It seems that my post of picture of German Shepherd Dogs and Greenland found resonance with the Whitehouse..
Not making it up.

[pravula]

It seems that my post of picture of German Shepherd Dogs and Greenland found resonance with the Whitehouse..
Not making it up.

lol, are they Alaskan Husky or Siberian Malamute I wonder. Maybe a Chow Chow. Should help them decide which way to go...