Bipartisan support to India-US ties to continue: Expert

WASHINGTON: A Republican-controlled Congress is unlikely to have any impact on India-US ties given the strong bipartisan support this relationship enjoys, an American expert on South Asian affairs has said.

"Expect to see continued broad support for India on a bipartisan basis in the US...," said Alyssa Ayres of the Council on Foreign Relations.

"The Modi government is likely to see a US Congress interested in doing more with India on security, energy, and foreign policy, but still concerned about trade barriers and temporary worker visas," said Ayres.

Obama's Democrats suffered heavy losses from Republicans in Tuesday's midterm elections, as his political rivals took the driver's seat in Congress, wresting back control of the Senate and holding onto the House of Representatives.

Experts are now anxiously watching to see if Obama will be able to carry out any of his foreign agenda.

Ayres said: "In fact on some of the issues, there could be greater thrust for relationship with India. Some of the key new Republican leaders are great advocate of India-US ties."

She said Senator John McCain, who is slated to be the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is likely to continue his advocacy for a strong India relationship across the board.

McCain was among the first few top American leaders to have met Modi after he became Prime Minister.

"Congress may seek to move further on energy policy issues that would benefit India," said Ayres.

"At the same time, on two issues of high importance to India, US Republicans coming into leadership positions have expressed concerns very similar to those held by Democrats about trade and immigration matters," she said.

She said Senator Bob Croker, the likely chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been a supporter of the India relationship.

Croker has been vocal about the need to reassess US relations with Pakistan, particularly supporting tying US foreign assistance to action against terrorism, said Ayres.