CHICAGO, Dec 15: Trade, artificial intelligence and the role of diaspora media emerged as key themes in discussions on the future of India–US relations, as eminent community members, business leaders and diplomats examined the evolving bilateral partnership during the India Abroad Dialogue here on Sunday.
Describing India–US ties as “a long ongoing marriage full of commitment, but short on drama,” Ankit Jain of the US–India Strategic Partnership Forum said economic engagement between the two countries remained robust despite political headwinds.
Jain said bilateral trade had crossed $200 billion, making India one of the United States’ largest trading partners. He added that American companies continued to invest heavily in India, pointing to recent commitments by firms such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google. However, he cautioned that high tariffs could adversely impact both economies. “It makes no sense to have India at the highest 50 per cent,” he said, warning of consequences for small and medium enterprises and inflation in the US.
Debesh Kumar Behera, Counsellor for Community Affairs and Security at the Indian Embassy, highlighted India’s growing focus on artificial intelligence. He said India’s upcoming AI summit would emphasise open-source innovation and indigenous capability, with attention on data centres, quantum computing and domestic AI models. “The more open source we use, the more it will help the community,” he said.
Community leaders underlined the diaspora’s role as a vital economic and cultural bridge. Amitabh Mittal, a community leader and entrepreneur, said Indian Americans were playing a leading role in AI development and called for stronger engagement between next-generation diaspora entrepreneurs and India’s innovation ecosystem.
Media responsibility also featured prominently in the discussion. Community media leader Vandana Jhingan warned that misinformation and “yellow journalism” were eroding public trust. “Everybody carries a smartphone and treats themselves like reporters,” she said, stressing that responsible journalism required verification rather than narratives.
Jhingan also called for stronger community support for ethnic media outlets, noting the financial challenges faced by credible diaspora publications.
Participants further discussed opportunities in defence manufacturing, semiconductors and space technology. Community and business leader Nirav Patel noted that more than 3,600 smaller organisations in the US were active in defence and space sectors, many led by next-generation Indian Americans, creating scope for co-creation and collaboration.
The session concluded with calls for sustained engagement between India and the US despite political transitions. Speakers noted that people-to-people ties and diaspora engagement would continue to serve as a stabilising force in the bilateral relationship, which has expanded significantly across defence, technology and education over the past decade.