Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna has called for the United States and India to strengthen their relationship by placing greater emphasis on shared democratic values rather than focusing solely on trade, defense, and investment. Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit, the California lawmaker said the long-term success of the partnership should be built on principles such as freedom, human dignity, and self-determination.
Addressing an audience of business executives, government officials, and policymakers, Khanna said cooperation between the two democracies should extend beyond economic and strategic interests. He argued that both countries have an opportunity to work together in promoting peace, protecting democratic ideals, and addressing global challenges that affect humanity.
The congressman also used his remarks to criticize President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, saying the current administration had weakened America’s relationships with allies. According to Khanna, future US leaders will need to rebuild trust internationally and restore the country’s global credibility through stronger diplomatic engagement.
Comparing different approaches to foreign policy, Khanna praised former President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s commitment to democracy and self-determination. He said the United States has historically supported freedom, human rights, and decolonization, values that have attracted generations of immigrants seeking better opportunities.
Immigration policy was another major focus of his speech. Khanna argued that restrictive immigration measures could limit the country’s ability to attract highly skilled professionals, particularly in rapidly advancing sectors such as artificial intelligence. He noted that a significant share of leading AI researchers were born outside the United States or earned their degrees abroad, stressing that welcoming global talent remains essential for maintaining American leadership in emerging technologies.
Looking ahead, Khanna expressed confidence in the Democratic Party’s political prospects, predicting electoral gains in the coming years. He said the United States has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to recover from periods of political division and emerge stronger through democratic institutions.
Reflecting on his own background as an Indian American and a practicing Hindu, Khanna said his views have been shaped by both his family’s connection to India’s independence movement and America’s long tradition of expanding civil rights and democratic freedoms. He believes these shared values should continue to serve as the foundation of US-India relations.
Representing California’s Silicon Valley since 2017, Khanna has consistently supported stronger cooperation between the United States and India in innovation, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies, while remaining one of the Democratic Party’s most vocal critics of several Trump administration policies.
