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...

[Rakesh]

Strengthening the U.S.-India Partnership: A Fireside Chat with Reps. Rich McCormick and Ami Bera

During a time of heightened geopolitical competition, shifting economic ties, and rapid technological innovations, bipartisan leadership in Congress can accelerate and enhance the U.S.-India partnership. Please join the CSIS Chair on India & Emerging Asia Economics for a fireside chat with Representative Rich McCormick (R-GA) and Representative Ami Bera (D-CA) on the evolving U.S.- India relationship and Congress’s essential role in shaping its future. The discussion will focus on near-term priorities for U.S.–India engagement, including Indo-Pacific security cooperation; economic ties—particularly trade, technology partnerships, and the rapid rise of AI; and the people-to-people connections that underpin the bilateral relationship. It will also examine how congressional action and oversight shape the partnership’s direction and long-term durability.

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA): Representative McCormick serves as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, where he works to advance bipartisan engagement on strategic, economic, and security issues central to the U.S. India partnership.

Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA): Representative Bera is the longest-serving Indian American Member of Congress and a senior voice on U.S.- India relations, with extensive experience engaging on Indo-Pacific strategy, foreign policy, and congressional initiatives that strengthen bilateral cooperation.

[A_Gupta]

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

“…the phrase in the image caption, "Which way, Greenland man?", is widely reported to be a variation of the title of the highly influential 1978 white supremacist book Which Way Western Man? by William Gayley Simpson.
The Book and Its Significance
Author: The book was written by William Gayley Simpson, a prominent American Nazi and white supremacist.
Content: The book praises Adolf Hitler, promotes antisemitic conspiracy theories, and details theories about the supposed "decay of Western Civilization".
Influence: It is considered a foundational and popular text within white supremacist and neo-Nazi subcultures, and the phrase "Western man" is reportedly code for "white man" within these extremist circles. ”

[Amber G.]

Nobel Prize!

[rkirankr]

Nobel Prize!

Most shameless person. This guy reminds of Jarasandha from Mahabharata

[uddu]

Both of them are. One thing that proves the point is that the Political aspect of Nobel is given to the most subservient of Stooges of the West.

[RCase]

^^^
She could give it to me the easy way or the hard way. That is the art of the deal to get a nobel prize! Get the prize for free, in lieu of chai biskoot at the White House! Did he make her part with the cash award too?

Next step - send ICE to get Om Baba's prize, with threats to deport him to Kenya.

[drnayar]

https://www.nobelpeaceprize.org/press/p ... ransferred

A Nobel Prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred
9 Jan 2026

The Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute receive a number of requests for comments regarding the permanence of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s status. The facts are clear and well established. Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time.

[Vayutuvan]

But they tried hard to revoke Aung San Suu Kyi’s award. Malala even wrote to the committee.

(spelling corrected)

[SRajesh]

^^ Yes Saar
She is a born again 'Muslim' as she has enjoyed the fruits of Western Liberalism!!
Like our own AR Rahman
He is come cribbing for no work and using his religion card to cry wolf!!!

[chetak]

so, what is sauce for the Indian goose is not sauce for the amriki gander



US lawmakers urge Trump to seek lower Indian tariffs on pulse crops in trade talks

Daines and Cramer said engaging Prime Minister Narendra Modi on pulse crop tariffs to enhance the economic cooperation between the two countries would be “mutually beneficial” for both American producers and Indian consumers.

Two US lawmakers have urged President Donald Trump to push for favourable provisions for pulse crop in any future trade deal with India, saying American producers face a “significant competitive disadvantage” due to what they described as “unfair” tariffs imposed by New Delhi.

In a letter dated Jan 16 addressed to Trump, Republican Senators Steve Daines of Montana and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said their states are the top two producers of pulse crops, including peas, while India is the world’s largest consumer, accounting for about 27 per cent of global consumption.

They noted that lentils, chickpeas, dried beans and peas are among the most commonly consumed pulse crops in India, but New Delhi has imposed substantial tariffs on American exports in these categories.

https://indianexpress.com/article/world ... -10479041/

[Amber G.]

This is getting worse..
There are reports [ ICE reportedly detained two Indian students at an Indian restaurant in St. Louis Park yesterday afternoon.

[Amber G.]

^^^Next step - send ICE to get Om Baba's prize, with threats to deport him to Kenya.

Per an interview per Macron --(paraphrasing it):

On May 10th, Macron informed Trump that Ukraine had accepted his ceasefire proposal.

Putin flatly rejected it.

​Trump responded by shifting the goalposts. His reversal sabotaged the very ultimatum European leaders had traveled to Kyiv to deliver. He later blamed Ukraine.

​The same cycle repeated in December: Trump made demands, Ukraine agreed, and Russia refused. Yet, in his recent Reuters interview, Trump still had the audacity to blame Ukraine for the deadlock.

​It’s clear the actual peace process is just a backdrop for his ego. "Oh, good, Nobel Prize for this" is the only outcome he actually gives a damn about.

[drnayar]

so, what is sauce for the Indian goose is not sauce for the amriki gander
US lawmakers urge Trump to seek lower Indian tariffs on pulse crops in trade talks

Daines and Cramer said engaging Prime Minister Narendra Modi on pulse crop tariffs to enhance the economic cooperation between the two countries would be “mutually beneficial” for both American producers and Indian consumers.
https://indianexpress.com/article/world ... -10479041/

any sense and sensibility in polity left the moment orangutan entered office., mami would not have been much different but orange monkey is right on the face and open about it. , so after all its all out in the open. !

His penchant to use the CIA for its dirty works department is all around to see. And denying everything he did and being hypocritical about it.

He even wanted to see if Putin could be bumped off conveniently !!

I dont know what or who is more dangerous to the entire world than that monkey occupying the " highest position in the world"

[Amber G.]

But seriously - In another news: I suppose he is mad that he did not get Ashok Chakra like Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan or Sub-Inspector Tukaram Omble /disgust/

[Vayutuvan]

^^ Yes Saar
She is a born again 'Muslim' as she has enjoyed the fruits of Western Liberalism!!
Like our own AR Rahman
He is come cribbing for no work and using his religion card to cry wolf!!!

IIRC, Desmond Tutu also wrote against Su Kyi.

[Vayutuvan]

People are insinuating that Machado is only after power. We are reading her wrong. She is genuinely interested in helping Venezuelan people to get out from under the thumb of a commie dictator. Nobel gives her cause more visibility, so does her "gifting" it to Trump.

Let us criticize Trump. No problem there. But why are we dragging Macahdo's name through the mud? The same set of posters at BRF were mocking Satya Sai Baba, which was totally uncalled for, IMHO.

There seems to be no limit to the level a person would stoop when they are afflicted with TDS.

Probably it is a case of Brutum Fulmen as the Dumbocrat leaders are crashing and burning MN and pilfering money from SNAP, Childcare.

By the way, how are these series of posts related to US-India relations?

[A_Gupta]

> American producers face a “significant competitive disadvantage” due to what they described as “unfair” tariffs imposed by New Delhi.

Compared to whom? India is explicitly protecting domestic producers. Best I can find out is that India applies the same tariffs on lentils, peas, etc., no matter the exporting country. Some trade Agreements have modified it (e.g., Canada, Australia get 10% tariffs.). Also, when India faces shortages, the tariffs are temporarily reduced to 0% for all exporters to India.

[Amber G.]

In the meanwhile: India Won't Leave Iran's Chabahar Port, Working With US For Middle Path:

[bala]

how are these series of posts related to US-India relations?

Yes, I am having the same Question as you, Vayu. All these DJT posts are pretty useless junk, since the Deep State is baring its fangs openly and using DJT as a front end spokesman. The bald naked greed is now evident and open to the world. Don't believe for a moment the rest in the US don't want what DJT is saying. Greenland has been on the radar of the CIA for ages and the hatred of Soviet/Rus by the US was always there, only degree is different. Oil has always been at the center of the dollar strength. When Saddam said he wanted a different currency for oil he was bumped off in the name of weapons of mass destruction. Gaddafi also wanted similar things and the underground water resources of the desert which is waiting to be tapped. He was bumped off. Now Venezeula too with Maduro. The themes for the US remained the same irrespective of party of El Presidente. Hanging onto every utterance of DJT is a useless pursuit. India has to navigate all consequences properly.

[A_Gupta]

Composite sourcing:

Machado joined a notorious group of Nobel Peace laureates who either waged or advocated for war, as she backed Trump’s aggression against her country. This has included a massive troop deployment, military and CIA airstrikes, bombing of boats allegedly transporting drugs, and the abduction earlier this month of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Trump has ordered the bombing of nine other countries during his two terms, more than any other president in history. US forces acting on his orders have killed thousands of civilians in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. While running for president in 2016, Trump vowed to “bomb the shit out of” Islamic State militants and “take out their families,” and then followed through on his promise.

Despite being passed over by Trump for installation in any leadership role in Venezuela so far, Machado presented Trump with her framed Nobel medal along with a certificate of gratitude during a Thursday meeting at the White House. Trump subsequently posted on his Truth Social network that “María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.”

This is not the first time that a Nobel winner gave away their prize. In 1943, Norwegian author Knut Hamsun gifted his 1920 Nobel Prize for Literature—awarded for his novel Markens Grøde (Growth of the Soil)—to Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels after a trip to Germany. Other Nobel laureates have donated or sold their medals.

Born 1859, Knut Hamsun had an extremely difficult childhood, hardly attended school, went hungry, emigrated twice to the United States, always failing to settle there, and eventually returned to Norway. After several failed attempts to launch himself as a writer, in 1888 the publication in a Danish literary journal of an excerpt from the novel HUNGER, on which he was then working, was an immediate success. The novel was published in its entirety in 1890 in Oslo, then called Christiania. HUNGER is a true landmark in Modernist literature, and Hamsun influenced several authors such as Franz Kafka, Henry Miller, Stefan Zweig, and Ernest Hemingway. James Joyce nicknamed him “Old King Knut,” and Isaac Bashevis Singer stated:

“All modern narrative in the 20th century comes from Hamsun.”

This author, who in the 1920s was considered one of the most important in the world, was perhaps the most reviled writer on the planet in 1945 and a source of shame for his country. Knut Hamsun was a collaborator, defender, and propagandist of Nazism. A true precursor to Maria Corina Machado, in May 1943 Knut Hamsun sent Joseph Goebbels, Minister of the German Reich, his Nobel Prize medal with the following dedication:

“Nobel created his prize as a reward for the ‘most idealistic’ work… I know of no one, Mr. Minister, who has worked so tirelessly and idealistically, year after year, in writing and orally, for Europe and for the cause of humanity as you have.”

Marina Corina Machado may be inspired by these words when she shares, as she wishes, her Nobel Prize with Donald Trump. Certainly, in the eyes of Maria Corina Machado, no one has worked “so tirelessly and idealistically, year after year,” for the cause of humanity and freedom as Donald Trump.

After the war, Knut Hamsun was arrested as a traitor to his country, prosecuted, and died poor, blind, and deaf, alongside his wife, who had also been a successful author of children’s books in Nazi Germany.

In case anyone was checking, Trump = Obama + {Nigeria, Venezuela, Iran}

[Vayutuvan]

So Obama waged war after getting the Nobel war peace prize. Mahatma Gandhi was nominated thrice but was not awarded while at least two purportedly Gandhians got it - MLK Jr and Nelson Mandela. Coming to the UN, just one name sends shivers down my spine - Kurt Waldheim.

[uddu]

https://x.com/TheNavroopSingh/status/20 ... 2150497284
@TheNavroopSingh
Its about India dumping US treasury and repatriating its Gold ! He is here to say you dumped 50.7 billion $ of treasuries and broke LBMA over Gold & Silver repatriation ! Can you slow down the pace please !

https://x.com/sidhant/status/2012388080439984573
@sidhant
Mumbai: US ambassador Sergio Gor meets RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra