Against the backdrop of rising friction in India-US relations, Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra has stepped up diplomatic outreach with a series of meetings with senior US lawmakers. The talks come after President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian exports, alongside a 25 per cent penalty on New Delhi’s imports of Russian crude oil.
Kwatra met Representative Darrell Issa, Chairman of the House Judiciary GOP Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, AI and the Internet, where the two discussed the importance of energy security and mutually beneficial trade. In a post on social media, Kwatra expressed gratitude for Issa’s continued support of India-US ties, noting his influential role as Vice-Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority.
The envoy also engaged with Representative Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Democrats, in talks that centered on expanding cooperation in trade, defense, and energy. Similarly, in a separate meeting with Senator John Cornyn, Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus, Kwatra highlighted the importance of closer trade engagement and pointed to opportunities for enhanced collaboration in hydrocarbons, particularly between Texas and India.
On Wednesday, Kwatra sat down with Congressman Andy Barr, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy. The discussion focused on ways to strengthen bilateral investment and trade partnerships. Kwatra publicly thanked Barr for his consistent support as Vice-Co-Chair of the India Caucus in the House of Representatives.
Beyond these meetings, the ambassador also interacted with Congressmen Warren Davidson, Marc Veasey, and Michael Baumgartner over the past week, underscoring New Delhi’s determination to preserve and strengthen its strategic ties with Washington despite current tensions.
The tariffs imposed by Trump have been sharply criticized by India, which described the measures as “unjustified and unreasonable.” Officials in New Delhi have stressed that, as a major economy, India will take all steps necessary to safeguard its economic security and protect national interests.
Kwatra’s high-level engagements are being seen as part of India’s broader effort to maintain dialogue and cooperation with key US policymakers at a time when trade disputes risk overshadowing the broader strategic partnership. Energy cooperation, defense collaboration, and expanded investment remain central pillars in efforts to steady the relationship.
