A selfie taken inside a moving SUV carrying Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin has intensified scrutiny of Washington’s approach to India, sparking pointed criticism in a US
congressional hearing over President Donald Trump’s foreign-policy strategy.
Waving the now-viral image, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove issued a stark warning that the United States was responsible for pushing India closer to Russia. Calling the image “worth a thousand words”, she said: “Trump’s policies towards India can only be described as cutting our nose to spite our face.” She also accused the current administration of damaging “strategic trust and mutual understanding” between the two countries.
“You do not get a Nobel Peace Prize by driving US strategic partners into the arms of our adversaries,” Kamlager-Dove asserted, calling the moment a wake-up call for Washington. “Because let me be clear: being a coercive partner has a cost,” she said.
Acknowledging the damage done to India-US ties, the Congresswoman said: “Congress understands the stakes on a bipartisan basis. And I thank the chair for putting this on the record today.”
The high-profile ride took place when Putin landed in Delhi on a state visit—the first since Russia’s war in Ukraine began in 2022. He was greeted at Palam Airport by a red-carpet welcome and a warm hug from PM Modi.
Instead of the usual convoy of armoured limousines, the two leaders climbed into a white, Indian-assembled Toyota Fortuner, a low-profile SUV used by Indian security agencies, and drove together to the prime minister’s residence for a private dinner.
According to Putin, the car ride “was my idea. It was a symbol of our friendship.” He added: “We talked throughout the drive … there’s always something to discuss.”
The casual car-pool, which was intimate, informal, and symbolic, resonated far beyond Delhi. In Washington, it became a visual counterpoint to US efforts to pressure India on Russian oil and defence ties.
By flagging the selfie in Congress, lawmaker Kamlager-Dove turned diplomacy into a warning: aggressive US tariffs and coercive pressure risk undermining long-standing partnerships and may backfire, pushing India toward Russia rather than the West.
