NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that India had committed to purchasing $500 billion worth of American goods over the next five years, accusing the Prime Minister of compromising India’s economic and foreign policy interests.
In a strongly-worded statement, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh questioned why major announcements concerning India’s foreign policy and trade commitments were repeatedly being made first from Washington instead of New Delhi.
Rubio had earlier stated on X that India would purchase $500 billion in US goods—focused on energy, technology, and agriculture—over a five-year period. The statement came during his ongoing India visit and amid discussions on a broader India-US trade arrangement.
Referring to earlier developments, Ramesh said, “At 5:37 pm IST on May 10 2025, it was US Secretary of State Marco Rubio who first made the announcement of the ceasefire that brought Operation Sindoor to an unexpected halt. He had claimed that it was intervention by President Trump that made the ceasefire possible.”
He further pointed to Rubio’s May 21 announcement regarding the proposed visit of the Venezuelan President to India, claiming it came “even before India and Venezuela had even hinted or confirmed the news.”
“Today, Mr Rubio has once again shocked the country by making a statement on X that the Modi government has committed to purchasing $500 billion in US goods over the next five years,” Ramesh said.
The Congress leader argued that the proposed imports would represent a massive increase in India’s trade dependence on the United States. “India’s current yearly imports are $52.9 billion as of FY26 — Secretary Rubio’s statement implies that India will have to double its annual imports from the US,” he said.
Ramesh raised five questions for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, beginning with the status of the India-US trade agreement. He claimed that countries such as Malaysia had declared similar trade arrangements with the US “null and void” after a US Supreme Court ruling striking down Trump-era tariffs that had formed the basis of those agreements. “The logic of this deal has now collapsed after the US Supreme Court’s verdict striking down the tariffs,” Ramesh alleged, accusing the government of making “enormous concessions that threaten our farmers and industries.”
He also questioned what he described as a contradiction with the government urging Indians to reduce foreign exchange expenditure while simultaneously agreeing to large-scale imports from the US. “The PM is on record asking citizens to cut down on domestic fuel consumption and overseas travel to save foreign exchange. Why has the Modi Government simultaneously agreed to record imports from the US at the same time?” he asked.
Ramesh further warned that such imports could place additional pressure on the rupee, claiming the Indian currency had already lost 12 per cent of its value against the dollar over the past year.
In one of the more politically-charged sections of the statement, the Congress leader referred to the Trump administration’s dismissal of “criminal fraud charges” against businessman Gautam Adani in connection with an alleged solar energy bribery case. “Is Mr Modi’s capitulation to the US on imports linked to the relief provided to the Modani empire by Mr Trump?” Ramesh asked.
The Congress also accused the government of surrendering control of the narrative surrounding India’s foreign policy. “Why is all communication on Indian foreign policy—from the Operation Sindoor ceasefire and the halting of Russian oil and gas imports, to the Indo-US trade deal and the visit of the Venezuelan President—now coming first from Washington D.C. instead of New Delhi?” the statement said.
“It appears that the compromised Prime Minister is keen on going the extra mile to appease and please his good friend,” Ramesh added.
The remarks come amid heightened debate over the evolving India-US strategic partnership and Rubio’s ongoing India visit, during which both sides have discussed trade, energy cooperation and broader geopolitical issues. Rubio has described India as one of America’s “most important strategic partners” and said ongoing trade negotiations would be “beneficial” and “sustainable” for both countries.
Agencies