Grand Tamasha Inside Washington: Ami Bera on Shifting U.S.–India Ties
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Mar 25, 2026 Ami Bera, U.S. Representative from California and senior House Foreign Affairs member, known for his work on U.S.–India relations and founding the Samosa Caucus. He discusses tensions around U.S. actions on Iran and War Powers. He talks about trade and immigration moves that unsettled the Indian American community. He examines shifting political alignments and the future of strategic ties.
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Congress Was Not Shown An Imminent Iran Threat
- The administration did not present Congress with evidence of an imminent Iran threat before escalating military action.
- Bera argues the White House failed to explain why existing, long-standing Iranian threats suddenly justified new force under War Powers norms.
U.S.–India Partnership Predates China Competition
- U.S.–India ties rest on deeper roots than just countering China.
- Ami Bera traces partnership to the 1990s (Clinton onward), shared democracy, education, diaspora and economic complementarities beyond recent China focus.
Congress Used A Bipartisan Resolution To Signal Reassurance
- Congress moved to reassure India when executive actions raised doubts about U.S. commitment.
- Bera and Republican Joe Wilson sponsored a bipartisan resolution to restate Congress's long-term support amid administration mixed signals.