A recent survey by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace reveals that Indian Americans broadly support the trajectory of US-India relations, with many approving of President Joe Biden’s approach. However, the study, titled Foreign Policy Attitudes of Indian Americans: 2024 Survey Results, also highlights concerns about a potential second Trump presidency and its implications for bilateral ties.
Conducted in partnership with YouGov, the survey found that four in ten Indian American respondents believed the Biden administration effectively supported India during its tenure. Around half of the surveyed individuals approved of Biden’s approach to India, while some felt that the relationship would have prospered more under a Kamala Harris presidency than under Trump.
Despite a shift toward right-wing politics within the Indian American community, the study found that support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has grown, particularly among younger respondents. However, there are increasing concerns about Hindu majoritarianism, with 70% of respondents agreeing that Modi’s recent campaign rhetoric exemplified a growing threat to minorities in India.
The study also examined awareness levels regarding key diplomatic controversies. Notably, only 51% of respondents were aware of US allegations that the Indian government orchestrated a plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader on American soil, despite significant media coverage. While 51% believed such an act would be unjustifiable, 26% said India would be justified.
The report underscores that Indian Americans, while politically and socially influential, do not always closely follow foreign policy issues. However, the survey reflects growing anxiety over US-India relations under a Trump presidency and highlights an increasing partisan divide within the diaspora on issues such as the Israel-Hamas war.
As Indian Americans continue to gain prominence in US politics, their evolving views on India and bilateral relations remain an important indicator of future policy dynamics.
