Trade, artificial intelligence and the growing influence of the Indian diaspora emerged as central themes during a high-level discussion on the future of India–US relations, held on Sunday in Chicago. The dialogue brought together prominent community leaders, business executives and diplomats to assess the evolving partnership between the world’s two largest democracies.
Speaking at the India Abroad Dialogue, Ankit Jain of the US–India Strategic Partnership Forum described the bilateral relationship as “a long ongoing marriage — full of commitment, but short on drama.” He emphasized that trade ties between the two nations remain resilient despite political challenges. Highlighting economic engagement, Jain noted that bilateral trade has crossed $200 billion, with major US companies such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google continuing to expand investments in India.
However, Jain cautioned against high tariff regimes, warning that they could negatively impact both economies. He said steep tariffs could hurt small and medium enterprises and add to inflationary pressures in the United States.
Addressing the role of emerging technologies, Debesh Kumar Behera, Counsellor for Community Affairs and Security at the Indian Embassy, said India’s upcoming Artificial Intelligence summit will focus on open-source innovation and strengthening indigenous capabilities. He underlined India’s push toward developing data centres, quantum computing and home-grown AI models, stating that open-source systems would benefit the global community.
The discussion also highlighted the Indian diaspora’s role as a bridge between the two nations. Community leader and entrepreneur Amitabh Mittal stressed that Indian Americans are playing a leading role in AI development and called for stronger engagement between next-generation entrepreneurs in the US and India’s innovation ecosystem.
Media responsibility within the diaspora community was another key issue. Vandana Jhingan, a community media leader, expressed concern over the spread of misinformation and sensationalism. She emphasized the need for responsible journalism based on verification rather than narratives and urged greater support for credible diaspora media from the business community.
Opportunities in defence manufacturing, semiconductors and space technology were also discussed. Community and business leader Nirav Patel noted that thousands of small organisations in the US defence and space sectors are increasingly led by next-generation Indian Americans, opening doors for collaboration and co-creation.
The session concluded with a call for sustained engagement between India and the United States despite political uncertainties. Speakers agreed that people-to-people ties, driven largely by the diaspora, would continue to serve as a stabilising force in the bilateral relationship.
Over the past decade, cooperation between India and the US has expanded across defence, technology and education. As both nations navigate political transitions, diaspora leaders believe continued collaboration and dialogue will remain crucial for strengthening long-term ties.