‘Alienating India will hurt America’: US Republican draws hard line, backs New Delhi over Pakistan

US Congressman Rich McCormick, a member of Donald Trump’s Republican Party, delivered a blunt reality check by drawing a sharp contrast between India and Pakistan, saying Islamabad brings no meaningful investment into the United States, unlike New Delhi.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), McCormick underlined India’s economic and strategic value to Washington and warned that sidelining New Delhi would be “big trouble for all of us”.

Despite Pakistan’s population of nearly 300 million, McCormick said it does not contribute to or attract investment in the US economy.

“Pakistan is a country with 300 million people, but you don’t see it bringing investments into America. India not only takes investments, but it also brings investments into the United States,” he said.

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India as a talent and growth engine

Highlighting India’s importance beyond capital flows, McCormick said New Delhi plays a crucial role in supplying global talent, particularly in key sectors of the US economy.

“Talent matters, and India is supplying a tremendous amount of talent — not just in exporting talented people, but also in what they are filling in,” the Republican leader said.

Warming ties with Pakistan questioned

McCormick’s remarks come amid concerns in India over Trump’s recent outreach to Pakistan, a shift that departs from the approach of successive US administrations that viewed India as a strategic counterweight to China in the Indo-Pacific.

However, Trump appeared to send a strong message to Islamabad by halting the processing of immigrant visas for Pakistani citizens, signalling limits to the warming engagement.

‘Strategic partnership is with India, not Pakistan’

Backing McCormick’s comments, Indian-origin US Congressman Ami Bera said US companies continue to place their long-term bets on India, not Pakistan.

“America is not creating a strategic partnership with Pakistan. American companies are not putting multi-billion-dollar investments in Pakistan. All of that is happening in India,” said Bera, a Democrat.

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Friction over Russian oil and trade

India-US relations have faced renewed strain under Trump 2.0 after Washington imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, taking the total to 50 percent, over New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. Talks on a bilateral trade deal remain stalled.

Addressing the issue, McCormick said the US “hates” India’s decision to buy Russian oil but understands the economic logic behind it.

Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi “extremely nationalistic”, he said India was securing cheap energy to fuel its growth.

“PM Modi is extremely nationalistic in a good way. He’s looking out for his country. When India buys cheap Russian oil, America hates that. But he is doing it in the best interest of his country,” McCormick said.

‘Alienating India will hurt America’

Describing India and the US as “like-minded”, McCormick stressed the need for balance and fairness in trade and cooperation.

“The industry that we bring back to India, the consumption of Indian goods is important, but we need to make sure there’s balance there,” he said, adding, “Anybody who’s married understands that.”

He ended with a clear warning to the Trump administration, stressing that pushing India away would carry serious consequences for Washington.

“If America embraces Indians as friends, we will have peace and prosperity. If we alienate them, it is going to be big trouble for all of us,” McCormick said.