In a candid keynote at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expressed that India’s military purchases from Russia and its BRICS-led efforts to reduce dollar dependence have “rubbed the U.S. the wrong way.” Lutnick said such moves strained U.S.-India relations but noted improvements. “India is now moving towards U.S. military equipment,” he stated, adding that both nations have “found a place that really works.”

He also highlighted BRICS’s dollar alternative push as a friction point: “That’s not how you make friends in America,” he remarked. However, Lutnick acknowledged India’s efforts to address U.S. concerns directly.

Looking forward, he hinted at a promising trade deal, emphasizing India’s key role in American advanced manufacturing plans. “India could hold a unique trade position with the U.S.,” Lutnick said, noting the potential for deepening economic ties by reducing tariffs and ensuring fair market access for American businesses.